Mixed bag for Chinese leather exports
During the first ten months of 2008, Chinese leather exports grew 9.4% to $23.2 billion compared with $21.2 billion in the corresponding period last year.
These figures, published by the China Leather Industry Association, show that exports of leather travel goods and cases grew 26.5% to $11.2 billion compared with $8.9 billion in the prior-year ten-month period. Leather ball exports rose 29.4% to $295.1 million from $228.1 million, footwear component exports grew 38% to $1.3 billion from $920.5 million, leather equipment exports were up 22.9% to $54.8 million from $44.6 million and raw hide exports grew 8.3% to $1.6 million from $1.5 million.
However, leather garment exports fell 22.9% to $859.6 million from $1.1 billion, fur garment exports dropped 13.9% to $214.1 million from $248.5 million, leather glove exports fell 3% to $690.3 million from $711.9 million and leather skin exports fell 64.3% to $366.8 million from $1 billion in the previous year.
Meanwhile, China imported leather articles worth $6 billion during the ten-month period, up 2.6% from $5.9 billion during the same period last year.
