Exports from China’s leather industry totalled US$40.91 billion between January and June 2026, down 5.4 % year on year, according to the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA). Imports moved in the opposite direction, rising 4.9 % to US$7.9 billion.
The footwear sector recorded a sharper decline. China exported 4.29 billion pairs of shoes, 4.6 % fewer than in the same period of 2025. In value terms, footwear exports fell 8.6 % to US$19.83 billion, CLIA data show. Leather footwear exports declined 3.3% in volume to around 240 million pairs, while their value dropped 8.7 % to US$3.28 billion.
Footwear imports also decreased. China imported 74.6 million pairs in the first half, down 17.3 %, with the value falling 2.3 % to US$2.58 billion. Imports of leather shoes amounted to around 21.2 million pairs worth US$1.1 billion.
Other segments developed differently. Imports of bags and cases increased 13.6 % to US$2.88 billion, while exports declined 3.1 % to US$15.48 billion. Imports of raw hides and skins rose 7 % in volume to 749,000 tonnes.
The figures come as China’s leather sector faces pressure on both production and sales. According to a separate CLIA analysis, sales at key companies in the industry declined around 5 % in the first half of 2026, while leather footwear production fell 7.6 % to approximately 970 million pairs.
