
Full Answer
How much leather is produced in the world?
Mukesh Doble, Anil Kumar, in Biotreatment of Industrial Effluents, 2005 The global leather industry produces about 18 billion square feet of leather a year (2003 data) with an estimated value of about $40 billion. Developing countries now produce over 60% of the world’s leather needs.
Is leather a by product of the meat industry?
Yes, leather is generally a by product of the meat industry. About 12 million cattle are processed annually in the USA for food production. The hides, unused for food, are a primary resource for the leather industry and leather production.
How has the leather industry changed over the years?
The relationships within the industry have evolved as well. Trade associations, similar to the leather guilds of Medieval Times, continue to strengthen the industry. They work to form networks of partners that create and deliver leather all around the world.
What percentage of leather is used in the car industry?
In 2017, 160,000 leather hides were daily processed for the car industry. 73% were chrome-tanned leather and 27% were chrome-free leather. 34.7% of the car industry's crusts were from South America, 27.8% from Europe, 19.2% from Asia, 14.3% from Central and North America and 4% from Africa.
What is the Leather Industry?
What is leather made of?
How many steps are there in tanning?
What are the animals that are used in the leather industry?
Why was leather craft important?
What are the most popular products?
Which countries were involved in the leather trade in the 1700s?
See 2 more

Does the US produce leather?
The U.S. exports 95% of all hide and wet blue leather products it produces.
How much leather is produced annually?
According to a newspaper of 15.09. 2011, 1.8 billion square meters of leather were produced annually for 40 billion US dollars. 500,000 people are employed....Tanneries - Leather production.Leather use2013Clothing leather14,4%Others8,3%3 more rows
Where does the US export leather to?
Export Numbers for U.S. Bovine Fresh/Wet Salted HidesNumber of PiecesBrazil181,626165,834(Only Italy)302,429280,840Indonesia227,822150,510Vietnam44,47685,57733 more rows•Apr 15, 2022
Where does US leather originate?
cattleAlthough the skins of such diverse animals as ostriches, lizards, eels, fish, and kangaroos have been used, the more common leathers come from seven main groups: cattle, including calves and oxen; sheep and lambs; goats and kids; equine animals, including horses, mules, and zebras; buffalo; pigs and hogs; and such ...
What country supplies the most leather?
Top 10 Largest Leather Producing Countries in 2020RankCountryShare of global production1China25%2Brazil9.5%3Russia7%4India6.4%6 more rows•Apr 29, 2020
What country sells the most leather?
Leading leather exporters worldwide in 2020, by country In 2020, Italy exported around 2.9 billion U.S. dollars of leather to the rest of the world. The United States was the world's second biggest exporter of leather, with exports valued at approximately 1.12 billion U.S. dollars that year.
Who is the biggest exporter of leather?
In 2020, 30.3 percent of the global value of exported leather goods were realized by China, making the country the leading exporter for leather goods in the world....Distribution of leather goods exports in value worldwide in 2020, by country.CharacteristicShare of world exports in valueOther countries25.1%6 more rows•Feb 23, 2022
Which country has the best leather?
The short answer is that the Italians, quite frankly, are the best and the most skilled leather craftsmen. There is no other country in the world that can match the quality, and this is largely due to the very skilled artisans, the quality hides used in their products and their dye making process.
Are there any leather tanneries in the United States?
American Tanning & Leather LLC is the oldest and largest exotic leather tannery in the USA and supplies luxury brands worldwide with the finest alligator and crocodile skins available on the market.
Is PETA against leather?
Leather is also no friend of the environment, as it shares responsibility for all the environmental destruction caused by the meat industry as well as the pollution caused by the toxins used in tanning. With every pair of leather shoes that you buy, you sentence an animal to a lifetime of suffering.
Do horses give us leather?
While most leather products are made from the skins of cattle and calves, leather is also made from the skins of horses, sheep, lambs, goats and pigs who are slaughtered for meat.
What are the top 5 countries that produce leather?
Most of the leather in the U.S. and Europe comes from China (the world's leading exporter), India, Brazil, the U.S., and Argentina, all of which make up the majority of the 65% bovine share.
How many animals are killed for leather each year?
More than 2.29 billion cows, calves, buffaloes, pigs, and goats are killed each year for their skins globally. Other animals such as deer, zebras, seals, sheep, alligators, snakes, sharks, cats, and dogs are brutally slaughtered to produce leather.
How big is leather industry?
The global leather goods market size was estimated at USD 407.92 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 424.64 billion in 2022....Report AttributeDetailsMarket size value in 2022USD 424.64 billionRevenue forecast in 2030USD 743.50 billionGrowth rateCAGR of 6.9% from 2022 to 2030Base year for estimation202110 more rows
Is making leather bad for the environment?
Huge amounts of fossil fuels are consumed in livestock production as well, and cow-derived leather has almost three times the negative environmental impact as its synthetic counterparts, including polyurethane (PU) leather. The production of leather hurts animals, the environment, and the workers who manufacture it.
What is the leather industry worth?
The leather and leather products industry plays a prominent role in the world's economy, with an estimated global trade value of approximately US$100 billion per year.
How big is the leather goods market?
The global leather goods market size was estimated at USD 407.92 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 424.64 billion in 2022. Read More
What is the leather goods market growth?
The global leather goods market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.9% from 2022 to 2030 to reach USD 743.50 billion by 2030....
Which region accounted for the largest leather goods market share?
North America dominated the global leather goods market in 2021 accounting for a revenue share of over 34.2%. Read More
Who are the key players in the leather goods market?
Some key players operating in the leather goods market include Adidas AG; Nike, Inc.; Puma SE; Fila, Inc.; New Balance Athletics, Inc.; Knoll, Inc....
What are the factors driving the leather goods market?
Key factors that are driving the leather goods market growth include rising consumer spending in Asian markets and the increasing popularity of lea...
Top 10 Largest Leather Producing Countries 2020 - Bizvibe Blog
The global leather industry is booming due to the growing demand of leather products worldwide, while the world’s top 10 largest leather producing countries, top leather exporters and leather importers continue to be some of the major contributors to the growth of the market.
Current Problems of the Leather Industry | Agricultural Research
Yibralem Abadi - Ethiopian Tanners Association, P.O. Box 12898, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia . Introduction. The leather industry sector is one of the fast growing economic sectors in Ethiopia.
Leather Industry - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
N.M. Sivaram, Debabrata Barik, in Energy from Toxic Organic Waste for Heat and Power Generation, 2019 5.1 Leather Industry. Leather industry is a very old manufacturing sector producing a broad range of goods such as leather footwear, leather bags, leather garments, and so on. The raw material used in leather industry is derived from the waste product of food industry, specifically from meat ...
What is the increasing demand for leather footwear?
The increasing demand for leather footwear & other goods by consumers is primarily driving the competition in the market. Major players manufacture products that cater to specific consumer needs, such as bags of various sizes, including backpacks, tote bags, messenger bags, suitcases, briefcases, pouches, and duffel bags.
What is the market share of Nike in 2020?
The footwear segment led the market in 2020 with a share of over 47%. Major players in the athletic footwear segment, such as Nike, New Balance, Adidas, Puma, Reebok, All birds, and Converse, have been venturing into leather athletic manufacturing, taking into consideration the increasing consumer demand for leather athletic footwear. For instance, in 2017, Nike, Inc. launched sneakers made from fly leather, a new material made from combining leftover leather scraps from tanneries and a polyester blend.
How much will the sales of shoes decrease in 2020?
Retailers faced severe losses during the first two quarters of 2020. According to a report by World Footwear, the sales of footwear declined by close to 32% in the U.S. at the end of the first two quarters of 2020. Low demand for footwear, in general, is subsequently expected to decrease the sales of leather shoes.
What is the market share of synthetic leather in 2020?
The genuine leather segment led the market with a share of over 55% in 2020. Synthetic leather goods are less expensive than genuine leather products and are equally attractive in terms of design, which is driving their demand among consumers.
What is the market for leather goods?
The global leather goods market size was valued at USD 394.12 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9% from 2021 to 2028. The market is mainly driven by rising consumer disposable income, improved living standards, changing fashion trends, and growing domestic and international tourism. The rising demand for comfortable, trendy, and fancy leather apparel, footwear, and accessories, along with growing brand awareness, is expected to have a positive impact on the market. Attractive and luxurious leather products are often viewed as a style statement and status symbol. The rising demand for contemporary designs offered by prominent international brands, such as Giorgio Armani, Burberry, Prada, and Dolce & Gabbana, is driving the demand for various leather goods, including apparel, footwear, and accessories.
What is the growth rate of home décor and furnishing?
The home décor & furnishing segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 6.7% from 2021 to 2028. Increasing expenditure on home furnishing and renovation has been a major factor driving the segment growth. It was stated by the International Monetary Fund that the global housing market has been growing steadily over the past few years. Another important factor is the housing index, which reflects changing prices of residential properties.
Where is leather made in Asia?
Bangladesh and Pakistan are important sources for primary leather (raw material) in Asia. According to Mohammed Nazmul Hassan, the Managing Director of Leatherex Footwear Industries Ltd., 15 to 20 new leather products & footwear manufacturing plants open in Bangladesh every year.
How is TNS generated?
TnS is mainly generated during treatment of wastewater from the leather industry. Its quantity and quality depend on the wastewater treatment technology, raw materials, and a skin-type production profile. It is estimated that on average, the processing of 1 Mg of raw hides results in the generation of 100–225 kg of total sludge ( Bień et al., 2017; Kameswari et al., 2011 ). According to alternative data sources, the average values for WAS and PS (primary sludge) range between 15–20 kg and 50–60 kg, respectively ( Priyadarshini et al., 2015 ). For instance, in India, the annual amount of generated sludge ranges greatly, from as little as 18,200 up to 165,200 Mg ( Kanchinadham et al., 2015 ). This sludge poses serious toxic hazards to the environment due to its contamination with different syntans, pigments, dyes, retaining agents, and other toxins, and elevated concentration of heavy metals such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) ( Juel et al., 2017 ). Trivalent Cr salts present in sludge derived from tanning agents (90% of tanneries in the world use this compound for this purpose) are a big problem. Their concentration varies greatly, ranging from 6030 up to an ore-like content of 474,000 mg/kg ( Bień et al., 2017 ). However, significantly lower (even miniscule) levels of Cr were noted as well. For instance, Haroun et al. (2009) reported a Cr level of 500 mg/kg, While, Shukla et al. (2011) reported that the concentration of Cr was 628 mg/kg.
What is used to turn raw hide into leather?
Conversion of raw hide into leather requires several mechanical and chemical operations involving use of many chemicals in an aqueous medium, including acids, alkalis, chromium salts, tannins, solvents, auxiliaries, surfactants, acids, metallorganic dyes, natural or synthetic tanning agents, sulfonated oils, and salts.
How does leather tanning affect the environment?
Thus, leather industry consumes resources and produces pollutants which are toxic and hazardous to the environment. For instance, in leather processing one metric ton of raw material is converted into only 200 kg of usable leather product (comprising 3 kg of chromium). The solid and liquid waste includes about 250 kg of nontanned solid waste, 200 kg of tanned waste (comprising 3 kg of chromium), and 50,000 kg of wastewater effluent (comprising 5 kg of chromium). Altogether, one metric ton of raw material yields only 20% as finished leather product and more than 60% as solid and liquid waste including the highly carcinogenic heavy metal “chromium” [2,4].
What percentage of the effluent is unhaired?
Unhairing and liming wastewater with high sulfide and lime content and high pH [accounts for 45% of the effluent volume and contributes to 30% of the overall biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD)].
How much water is used in tanning?
To process one metric ton of wet salted hides, 40 m 3 of water is required, and out of 452 kg of process chemicals used , only 72 kg of leather is taken and the remaining 380 kg is discharged ( Catalina et al., 2007 ). The details of water consumption for several steps and the characteristic pollutant loads for each operation are presented in Table 1.
What percentage of COD is retanning?
Retanning, dyeing, and fat liquoring wastewater (accounts for ∼20% of the total COD).
Does biochar have electrostatic attraction?
Electrostatic attraction/repul sion between organic contaminants and biochar has been proposed as one of the possible dye adsorption mechanisms. Biochar surfaces are usually negatively charged facilitating the electrostatic attraction of positively charged cationic organic compounds. Such electrostatic attraction was described in adsorption studies of cationic dyes like methylene blue ( Inyang et al., 2014 ), methyl violet ( Xu et al., 2011 ), and rhodanine ( Qiu et al., 2009) in water. However, according to Ahmad et al. (2014a), besides chemical functionality and electrostatic forces, the organic adsorbates can be affected considerably by pH and ionic strength. Surface charges on the biochar are generally controlled by pH. Hence at solution pH below the isoelectric point of char, the total external surface charge will be net positive, whereas at higher solution pH the surface will have a net negative charge ( Mukherjee et al., 2011; Inyang and Dickenson, 2015 ). The sorption capacity of biochar derived from crop residue at 350°C for methyl violet increased sharply from pH 7.7 to 8.7 ( Xu et al., 2011; Ahmad et al., 2014a ). Similarly, the ionic strength of the solution also showed positive effects on the organic contaminant adsorption on biochar ( Qiu et al., 2009; Xu et al., 2011 ). In particular, an increase in anionic brilliant blue dye adsorption on biochars was observed with an increase in ionic strength ( Qiu et al., 2009 ). In general, the effect of ionic strength on adsorption onto biochar can be positive or negative depending on pH or the point of zero charge of the biochar ( Bolan et al., 1999 ).
IS IT A BY-PRODUCT OF THE MEAT INDUSTRY?
Despite most leather being obtained from animals slaughtered for meat or after producing milk, it would be foolish to assume it’s simply a by-product of these industries. There is an important economic interdependence between factory farming and the leather trade, and thus farmers do not sell every single part of each animal to minimize waste but instead to maximize revenue and profit. For that reason leather is an animal product much like any other: produced to meet consumer demand while lining the pockets of those within the respective businesses. In actual fact, leather accounts for approximately 10% of the animal’s total value, making it the most valuable part, pound for pound.
How does leather become leather?
Secondly, once the hide or skin has been harvested from the slaughtered animal, there is a three-stage process it must undergo to become leather. The remaining flesh is scraped away and the hairs removed, after which the skin is treated (tanned) to ensure it doesn’t decompose. The skin is then thinned, re-tanned, lubricated, and, if required, dyed. This process uses several chemicals and toxins including ammonia; cyanide-based dyes, formaldehyde; and lead. Some of these products are carcinogenic, and all are environmental pollutants, which end up released into the air, ground, and water supply. Of course, these processes are especially polluting in countries where environmental regulations aren’t enforced.
Why is leather important to farmers?
Buying, and therefore creating further demand for, a leather product provides a financial incentive to farmers to produce more. There is no longer a need to do so, however, as it is possible to obtain alternatives made from natural, recycled, or synthetic materials; and for those who wish to wear leather- or suede-like garments, there are even pseudo-leather materials on the market.
How much of an animal's value is leather?
In actual fact, leather accounts for approximately 10% of the animal’s total value, making it the most valuable part, pound for pound. As a durable and flexible material, most leather is used for practical reasons. There is increasing demand from the exotic and luxury leather market for other hides and skins, however, ...
What animals are poached for their skins?
These include (but are not limited to) alligators, elephants, lizards, ostriches, snakes, and zebras. Furthermore, in China – the world’s leading exporter of leather – an estimated two million cats and dogs are killed for their skins, which can’t be detected by consumers due to either a complete lack of labeling or deliberate mislabeling.
How many animals are slaughtered per hour?
It’s no secret that animals in the commercial dairy and meat industry suffer months or years of abuse, plus as slaughterhouses often process up to 400 animals per hour, it’s not uncommon for an animal to be stunned incorrectly and therefore skinned alive.
How much methane is released into the atmosphere?
In raising billions of animals each year, millions of tonnes of waste are generated that contaminate both the ground and water supply, while millions of tonnes of methane – one of the more potent greenhouse gases – are released into the atmosphere.
What is leather industry?
In the strictest sense of the term, the leather industry covers the preserving of the rawhide after the slaughterhouse and the tanneries which process the raw skins into durable leathers . In the widest sense, the "leather industry" also includes the companies which then process the skins into ready-for-use articles.
How many pairs of leather shoes were made in 2014?
In 2014 about 14 billion pairs of leather shoes were manufactured. Zebus are a widespread cattle breed in Brazil. The leather industry in 2005 was worth about 45 billion US dollars, of which only 25.6 billion dollars were spent on finished leather articles (55% shoes, 15% gloves and clothing, 20% cars and furniture ).
How many leather bags were made in China in 2012?
China produced 57.7 million pieces of leather clothing in 2012 (62.37 million in 2010) and 2010 780 million bags and luggage. The turnover of the leather sector in China in 2012 amounted to 168.8 billion US dollars.
How many shoes did China make in 2012?
In 2012, China had a leather production (only large-scale enterprises with annual sales of 3.17 million US dollars) of 750 million square metres and produced 4.5 billion shoes (2010 4.2 billion). China is the world's largest leather producer and shoe manufacturer. China produced 57.7 million pieces of leather clothing in 2012 (62.37 million in 2010) and 2010 780 million bags and luggage. The turnover of the leather sector in China in 2012 amounted to 168.8 billion US dollars.
Why is leather falling?
On the other hand, the prejudice against tanneries in the industrialized countries is also a reason for falling leather production.
How much of the world's leather is chrome tanned?
85% of the leather produced worldwide is chrome-tanned (2014). In 1950 still 75% of the manufactured leather was used for shoes. Nowadays it is only about 50%.
What is luxury class without leather interior?
Luxury class vehicles without leather interiors are a rarity and end up having a lower resale value. In the US, the share of leather-seated vehicles increased from 29% to 48% between 2001 and 2017.
How much MSW was recycled?
Of the MSW generated, approximately 69 million tons were recycled and 25 million tons were composted. Together, almost 94 million tons of MSW were recycled and composted, equivalent to a 32.1 percent recycling and composting rate. An additional 17.7 million tons of food were managed by other methods.
What is MSW management?
This includes the source reduction of wastes before they enter the waste stream and the recovery of generated waste for recycling, composting or other methods. It also includes environmentally sound waste management through combustion with energy recovery and conversion, as well as landfilling practices that meet current standards or newly emerging waste conversion technologies.
How much compost is there in MSW?
The total MSW composted was 25 million tons. This included approximately 22.3 million tons of yard trimmings (more than a five-fold increase since 1990) and 2.6 million tons of food waste (4.1 percent of generation of wasted food).
What percentage of MSW is recycled?
It decreased to 32.1 percent in 2018.
How many tons of MSW were produced in 2018?
Generation. The total generation of MSW in 2018 was 292.4 million tons, which was approximately 23.7 million tons more than the amount generated in 2017. This is an increase from the 268.7 million tons generated in 2017 and the 208.3 million tons in 1990. Created with Highcharts 4.2.7.
What is EPA trash?
EPA refers to trash, or MSW, as various items consumers throw away after they are used. These items include bottles and corrugated boxes, food, grass clippings, sofas, computers, tires and refrigerators. However, MSW does not include everything that may be landfilled at the local level, such as construction and demolition (C&D) debris, municipal wastewater sludge, and other non-hazardous industrial wastes. While the analysis in Facts and Figures focuses primarily on MSW, EPA has been including estimates of C&D generation and management as a separate non-hazardous waste stream in recent years.
How much MSW is generated per capita?
Per capita MSW generation increased from 4.5 pounds per person per day in 2017 to 4.9 pounds per person per day in 2018. The increase from 2017 to 2018 is mainly the result of EPA’s inclusion of additional wasted food management pathways. See Food: Material-Specific Data.
Why has U.S. oil production increased?
As U.S. oil production has more than doubled since the 2008 recession, imports of crude oil to the United States have decreased. An upsurge in foreign oil prices during the financial crisis, particularly from OPEC countries located mainly in the Middle East, motivated the U.S. energy industry to find ways to increase production domestically.
Developments in extraction technology
During the recession, investors took advantage of low-interest rates to develop costly oil extraction processes such as hydraulic fracturing. Also known as “fracking,” this extraction method made it possible to access shale oil deep underground that was once out of reach.
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What is the Leather Industry?
The leather industry is a global manufacturing sector that produces the raw, processed, and finished materials used to make leather goods. Animal hides are used to produce the leather. The hides are generally the waste product of the food industry. The animals used for hides, when treaded humanely and well-cared for, are a renewable resource. Leather is one of the most traded products globally, with the export value of hides and skins exceeding $5 billion annually.
What is leather made of?
The leather industry has a long history dating back hundreds of years. It is a $100 billion manufacturing sector that produces leather hides and goods all around the world. The most popular hides are from cows, sheep, goats, and pigs. The most popular products are shoes, clothing, and upholstery.
How many steps are there in tanning?
The tanning process is generally 25 steps, among which they can vary greatly in chosen method, chemicals used, and time involved. Tanned leather can be available in all different thicknesses, colors, textures, and finishes. Once prepared and finished, these leathers can be sold in the marketplace.
What are the animals that are used in the leather industry?
Leather Industry Farmers/Ranchers. Farmers and ranchers maintain a large count of animals. They most often include cows, pigs, sheep, and goats. The animals are primarily utilized for the food industry, the hides becoming a by-product that then is used as a raw material source of for the leather industry.
Why was leather craft important?
It also required specialized tools to work with. Thus, it was important to create a way to keep this information within groups, and guilds of leather workers were created.
What are the most popular products?
The most popular products are shoes, clothing, and upholstery. So many people, and so many countries, are involved in the processing and production of leather goods. It’s an amazing world trade that yields products most of us use on a daily basis. Let’s take a closer look.
Which countries were involved in the leather trade in the 1700s?
Around the 1700’s, global trade routes were well established by the world powers at the time. Mainly, Great Britain, France, and Spain. They would generally drive the leather industry, through production and trade of hides around the world.

What Is The Leather Industry?
History of The Leather Industry
Key Groups of The Leather Industry
Types of Animal Leather
Leather Industry Global Production Statistics
Leather Industry Association and Trade Groups
The Future of The Leather Industry
Related Questions
- How much is the leather industry worth?
The leather industry is worth about $5 billion annually in the value of hides and skins. It it worth about $100 billion annually when considering the global trade of all leather goods and related trade products. - Is leather a by product of the meat industry?
Yes, leather is generally a by product of the meat industry. About 12 million cattle are processed annually in the USA for food production. The hides, unused for food, are a primary resource for the leather industry and leather production.
Where – Or Who – Does Leather Come from?
Is It A By-Product of The Meat Industry?
It’S Not Cool to Be Cruel
Environmental Impact
Go Cruelty-Free!