Leather exports continue to rise
Indian leather exports for the period April 2007 to March 2008 totalled $3.5 billion, up 13.7% compared with $3.1 billion in the corresponding period the previous year. In rupees, growth was 1.1%. The country far exceeded its target of $3 billion for the year.
Broken down into types of leather and leather goods, leather saddlery and harness exports rose 28.5% to $105.8 million from $82.33 million in the prior-year period. Exports of footwear components increased by 21.1% to $266.1 million from $219.8 million, leather footwear exports rose 19.5% to $1163.8 million from $974.3 million and finished leather exports grew 5.9% to $766.9 million from $724 million. Leather garment exports rose 11% to $344 million from $309.9 million and leather goods were up 11.1% to $785 million from $706.3 million.
The top ten export destinations for Indian leather exports were: Germany (14.1%); Italy (13.8%); UK (11.9%); USA (8.8%); Hong Kong (7.7%); Spain (6.1%); France (5.6%); Netherlands (3.8%); UAE (2.1%); and Australia (1.4%). These 10 countries combined account for almost 75.41% of the country’s total leather products exports.
