The latest leather export figures for January released by Pakistan’s Federal Bureau of Statistics have again failed to shed any light on the situation in the South East Asian country as they report as mixed a picture as those published for December (see www.leatherbiz.com January 24, 2008).

Exports once again fell month-on-month as a result of a significant decline in leather garment exports, but improved a significant 40.27% on January 2007.

Compared with December 2007, leather sector exports declined 24.75% to $78.775 million from $104.69 million. Month-on-month, finished leather exports increased 5.77% to $32.052 million from $30.304 million and footwear exports crept 0.27% higher to reach $8.915 million up from $8.891 million; however, leather goods fell by a huge 42.27% to hit $37.808 million down from $65.495 million, mainly due to a decline in leather garment exports which fell from $57.09 million in December to $29.80 million.

The year-to-date figures make more positive reading as exports jumped 19.16% in the first seven months of the current financial year (July 2007-January 2008) to reach $665.245 million, up from $558.256 million in same period last year, but, while leather goods exports improved, footwear exports declined overall.

Finished leather exports increased 31.12% in terms of volume and 37.51% in value to reach 13,161,000m² worth $230.729 million, compared with 10.167 million m² worth $167.788 million in the same prior-year period and leather goods exports increased to $371.14 million, up 13.99% from $325.598 million; however, footwear exports declined 2.3% to 7,889,000 pairs worth $63.376 million, down from 8,649,000 pairs worth $64.870 million in same period last year.

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