Indian leather exports rise by 7.42%
According to figures released by the Indian Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Indian leather exports registered growth of 7.42% between April and September 2006 to reach $1.49 billion compared with $1.387 billion in the corresponding period in 2005.
Leather footwear exports increased by 19.1% to reach $452.05 million from the $379.56 million reported in the same six-month period in 2005. Finished leather exports rose 3.89% to $334.53 million from $322.01 million, whilst exports of leather goods grew 6.07% to $352.91 million from $332.72 million.
However, leather garment exports fell by 10.13% to $168.1 million from $187.05 million and saddlery and harness goods declined by 4.50% to $37.85 million from $39.63 million.
During the same period, the country’s total leather imports—including raw hides and skins and finished leather—increased by 19.01% to $174.27 million from $146.43 million in the comparable 2005 period. Although imports of raw hides and skins actually fell by 5.9% to $31.31 million from $33.27 million in 2005, finished leather imports increased by 26.34% to $142.96 million from $113.16 million.
