The European Union’s leather apparel market is expected to enter a sustained phase of growth over the next decade, driven by rising consumer demand across the region. Market consumption is forecast to increase gradually, with volumes projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.4% between 2024 and 2035, reaching an estimated 25 million units by the end of 2035.
In value terms, the market is expected to expand at a faster pace, with a projected CAGR of 2.2% over the same period. This growth is anticipated to lift the market’s value to around US $ 1.8 billion, calculated at nominal wholesale prices, by 2035.
Italy currently accounts for the largest share of leather apparel consumption in the European Union, with volumes estimated at 8.2 million units, representing approximately 38% of total consumption. Italy’s consumption is more than double that of Germany, the second-largest market, which recorded 3.6 million units. Spain ranks third with consumption of 2.2 million units, accounting for around 10% of the total.
In value terms, Italy also leads the market with leather apparel consumption valued at US $ 487 million. Germany follows with US $ 178 million, while the Netherlands ranks third.
On the import side, Germany and Spain were the largest importers of leather and composition leather apparel in 2024, with import volumes of 4.7 million units and 3.2 million units, respectively. Together, the two countries accounted for about 47% of total imports. Italy imported 1.8 million units, followed by France with 1.5 million units, the Netherlands with 1.3 million units and Poland with 1 million units. Collectively, these countries represented around 34% of total imports, while Austria accounted for a smaller share with imports of 723,000 units.
In value terms, Germany led leather apparel imports in 2024 at US $ 318 million, followed by France at US $ 228 million and Italy at US $ 210 million. These three countries together accounted for approximately 55% of the total import value. The Netherlands, Spain, Poland and Austria followed, jointly contributing a further 30% of import value.
