Leather exports up 10 per cent in December

NEW DELHI: India's leather exports grew by 10.4 per cent to USD 352 million in December 2010, on a year-on-year basis, thanks to the rising demand from the US and European markets.

In December 2009, leather exports stood at USD 319 million, according to the data provided by the Council for Leather Exports (CLE).

"There is a good demand for our products, especially from the US and European markets," CLE Executive Director Ali Ahmed Khan said.

The US and Europe together account for about 80 per cent of the country's total leather exports.

To reduce dependence on western markets, the exporters have been exploring new destinations like Turkey, Jordan, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.

The council is confident about achieving the export target of USD 3.75 billion set for the last fiscal.

In the first nine months of 2010-11, leather exports jumped about 11 per cent to USD 2.75 billion compared to USD 2.48 billion in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

During 2009-10, leather exports declined by 5.51 per cent to USD 3.4 billion compared to the previous fiscal due to recession in western markets.