According to statistics released by Chinese customs officials, China’s leather goods exports reached $36.42 billion in 2005, an increase of 20% from 2004.

According to the figures, the USA was the largest importer of Chinese leather goods, followed by the EU and Russia respectively.

Although raw material and machinery exports rose 17% to $4.09 billion, 83% of exports were finished leather goods, which increased 21% to $32.33 billion year-on-year.

Footwear exports increased 26% and accounted for 51% of total leather exports, reaching 6.91 billion pairs worth $18.43 billion. The average price of leather upper shoes increased to $5.93, rising $0.45 compared with 2004. The average price of imported footwear with leather uppers dropped for the first time since 2001 to $26.93, a decrease of $0.59 year-on-year.

Imports in the leather industry increased 5% to $8.7 billion in 2005, 94.8% of which were raw materials including hides and machinery.