Exports of the nation’s leather and non-leather footwear and products increased by almost 25 per cent year over year to US $ 5.7 billion in 2024–2025, and shipments are probably going to surpass US $ 6.5 billion this fiscal year, according to exporters’ organisation CLE.
According to the Council for Leather Exports (CLE), there is “healthy” demand in both industrialised and developing nations. The Department of Commerce set an export objective of US $ 1 billion in 2024–2025, and if this trend continues, exports will reach US $ 6.5 billion in 2025–2026, according to CLE Executive Director R Selvam. Despite global uncertainties, the sector is recording growth, he added.
Rajendra Kumar Jalan, the chairman of CLE, had similar opinions, stating that India’s top export markets, the US and the UK, are seeing strong export growth. Jalan stated that no orders were cancelled despite all exporters offering buyers discounts as a result of the 10 per cent tariff increase. A ‘zero-for-zero’ duty has been suggested to the government in the proposed bilateral trade agreement with the US, he added.
According to him, order books are good for the upcoming months, and the US and the UK are the main sources of demand. According to him, the sector employs over 42 lakh people and is labour-intensive. With US $ 5 billion in exports, the industry generates a total revenue of almost US $ 19 billion.
The industry estimates that by 2030, the sector may generate a total revenue of roughly US $ 39 billion, which would include US $ 25 billion in local production and US $ 13.7 billion in export revenue. A number of Chinese investors are eager to collaborate with Indian footwear companies to establish production facilities in India, according to the industry.
