With major export markets showing subdued recovery, India’s leather industry is looking at Spain

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to enhance their overseas sales. Council for leather exports (CLE), the apex body for development of Indian leather industry, is preparing to organise its first leather show in Madrid, Spain, during March 22-26 next year.

Though the council has been organising programmes such as road shows and B2B meetings over the past few years, CLE, for the first time, will organise a show on such a large scale to showcase leather products such as finished leather, footwear, leather garments, leather goods and accessories. About 50 Indian companies will participate in the show.

“The past focus-Spain market promotion programmes have immensely helped create awareness about Indian leather sector. Indian companies have found Spain a very promising market not only for exports but also to establish business collaborations such as joint ventures or marketing tie-ups with Spanish companies,” according to Ali Ahmed Khan, executive director, CLE.

Leather exports to Spain have increased significantly in the past few years, particularly footwear exports, due to regular business promotion activities.

Spain is the ninth largest importer of leather and leather products in the world. Spain’s import of leather and leather products increased from $2.22 billion in 2003 to $3.82 billion in 2007, growing at a CAGR of 14.15 per cent.

Also, Spain accounts for three per cent in the global leather import trade of $127.73 billion. The country’s share in the global leather import trade has increased from 2.48 per cent in 2003 to about three per cent in 2007. Hence, Spain is a potential market with strong business opportunities for Indian firms for export of footwear, leather goods and accessories as well as leather garments.

On the other hand, Spain is also the sixth largest importer of leather products from India, accounting for over six per cent of India’s total leather products export.

India’s export of leather products to Spain grew from $110.56 million in 2002-03 to $219.18 million in 2008-09, posting a CAGR of 12.08 per cent.