This list reveals the top 10 leather importers based on their percentage of global import purchases (shown within parenthesis). In 2017, world leather imports totaled US$1.9 billion.
African Importers
Africa imported $48.5 million worth of leather led by the following countries:
1. Tunisia: $24.4 million
2. Morocco: $15.9 million
3. Mauritius: $2.6 million
4. Madagascar: $2.3 million
5. South Africa: $2 million
6. Ethiopia: $295,000
7. Nigeria: $262,000
8. Uganda: $162,000
9. Namibia: $159,000
10. Mozambique: $88,000
Asian Importers
Asia imported $965.7 million worth of leather led by the following countries:
1. China: $302.7 million
2. Hong Kong: $225.4 million
3. Vietnam: $170.6 million
4. South Korea: $83.7 million
5. Indonesia: $29.1 million
6. Philippines: $19.7 million
7. Bangladesh: $17.3 million
8. Cambodia: $16.1 million
9. Turkey: $34 million
10. Japan: $15.1 million
European Union (EU) Importers
European Union imported $735.9 million worth of leather led by the following EU members:
1. Italy: $213.3 million
2. France: $133 million
3. Spain: $92.5 million
4. Portugal: $85.3 million
5. Germany: $58.3 million
6. Romania: $44.2 million
7. Austria: $27.3 million
8. Hungary: $19.6 million
9. Croatia: $11.1 million
10. Slovakia: $10.8 million
Latin American and Caribbean Importers
Latin America (excluding Mexico) and the Caribbean imported $10.7 million worth of leather led by the following countries:
1. Dominican Republic: $2.4 million
2. Chile: $1.8 million
3. Brazil: $1.7 million
4. Colombia: $1.4 million
5. Uruguay: $592,000
6. Costa Rica: $381,000
7. Argentina: $1.3 million
8. El Salvador: $290,000
9. Peru: $249,000
10. Panama: $158,000
Middle Eastern Importers
Middle East imported $1.9 billion worth of leather led by the following countries:
1. Israel: $1.8 million
2. United Arab Emirates: $912,000
3. Lebanon: $129,000
4. Saudi Arabia: $127,000
5. Qatar: $55,000
6. Kuwait: $71,000
7. Yemen: $11,000
8. Oman: $8,000
9. Iran: $3,000
10. Jordan: $2,000
North American Importers
North America imported $50.3 million worth of leather led by the following countries:
1. United States: $36.9 million
2. Mexico: $11 million
3. Canada: $2.7 million
Oceanian Importers
Oceania imported $5.2 million worth of leather led by the following countries:
1. Australia: $3.8 million
2. Fiji: $616,000
3. New Zealand: $649,000
4. Papua New Guinea: $8,000
To see the 25 fastest-growing leather importers from 2013 to 2017, use the slidebar on the accompanying list. Overall, the 5-year percentage decline for globally imported leather was -34.9%.
Data source: Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis
Top Leather Importers 2017
Fastest-Growing Leather Import Countries
Research Note: Import numbers rarely match the source exporters’ stats. Reasons for import-export statistical discrepancies include re-exports, time lags, misallocations, distinct trade reporting systems, different quantity measurements and country confidentiality rules. Also, transportation and insurance costs are sometimes added to import totals.