Leather exports touch Rs. 7,500 cr. in April-Jan.

KOLKATA, APRIL 22. India, striving to emerge as a leading player in the global market for leather and leather products, has registered an export growth of over 28 per cent to Rs. 7,500 crores during April, 2000 to January, 2001.

The exports, which maintained growth during January with an earning of Rs. 625 crores, are estimated to touch Rs. 9,000 crores for 2000-01, according to Union Commerce Ministry sources here.

While the U.S. topped the list of major markets with a share of about 19 per cent of total Indian exports, Germany, the U.K., Italy and France were the other prime destinations for the country's leather and leather goods products, the sources said, adding the five countries together absorbed 63 per cent of Indian exports during the period.

Finished leather registered the highest growth of 62 per cent to Rs. 1,381 crores while leather garments (Rs. 1,796 crores) and leather goods (Rs. 1,696 crores) clocked maximum export earnings during the first 10 months. Export of leather footwear, which had witnessed a marginal growth till December, registered a 33 per cent growth in January to take the cumulative figure to Rs. 1,421 crores.

The other export items included footwear components (Rs. 908 crores), saddlery and harness (Rs. 166 crores) and rubber, canvass (Rs. 66 crores), the sources said.

Meanwhile, the centre, in its effort to increase the country's share in global trade in leather and leather products, has asked export promotion councils to submit their recommendations on the sector, they said.

The industry, on the other hand, has sought the Centre's assistance in form of import duty concession, rationalisation of labour laws, additional facilities for testing of raw materials, support to the small scale sector and brand promotion, among others.

The sources said that the main hurdles for the country, which was ranked 13th in global trade in leather and leather products, were low availability of hide and skin and non-compliance of the units to environmental norms. The primary issues relating to the leather sector were, therefore, enhancing availability of raw skin and modernisation of tanneries, they said, adding the Centre was taking measures to address the issues to ensure a greater share in the global leather market.

- PTI

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