The quasi-legal Russian-Turkish baggage trade has clocked up some astounding figures. With exports now worth billions of dollars, the baggage (or luggage) trade is a misnomer.

For 2002, official (documented) leather garment exports will top $500 million. The take-out, seamless border trade in leather garments, however, will amount to $1.5 billion, giving this sector a $2 billion export value. Add in leather accessories, shoes and miscellaneous items and the figure is closer to $3 billion for the leather sector as a whole.

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