Germany was the top buyer of Indian leather and leathergoods in the financial year ending in April 2007. Germany imported material and finished products worth $404.10 million during the period.
It was followed by Italy, whose imports were worth $400.14 million, the UK with $354.11 million and the US with $311.23 million.
Germany imports from India have gone up by 11.25%, Italy’s by 26.21%, and the UK’s by 2.48%. However exports from India to the US recorded a decline of 2.24% compared to the previous financial year.
Over the same period, Indian leather sector registered an overall growth of 8.33% in exports, recording a value of almost $3 billion from $2.75 billion last year, according to data released by Indian Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
Finished leather exports accounted for $688 million, leather footwear for $951 million, footwear components $212.65 million, leather goods $690.66 million, and other goods $81.85 million. While leather garment exports had a value of $309 million, this represented a decline of 7.3% on the previous year.
Meanwhile, India's total imports of raw hides, skins and leather rose by 23% to $358.48 million from $291.32 million in the corresponding period last year. The breakdown showed that import of raw hides and skins rose by 19.59% to $69.61 million from $58.21 million and leather imports 23.92% to $288.87 million from $233.11 million.
