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.