Leather Industry - What is Importance?

Image's Source: Pixabay

Economic Importance 

Leather industry provides numerous benefits for the economic upliftment of those countries which are not only self-sufficient in producing quality raw materials of leather such as hides and skins of cows, buffaloes, bovines, sheeps, deer, and goats, respectively, but such countries also actively engage in the manufacturing of leather goods, make value addition, and export finished leather products in international markets, so, as a good result, trading partners earn considerable amount of foreign exchange.

Employment Generation

Leather industry is one of the major contributors for increasing employment in the interlinked sectors such as meat, cattle, dairy, butcher houses, suppliers of the raw hides and skins who deliver to the tanneries. 

Manufacturing units and factories of leather industry are in a good position to absorb a large portion of skilled, semi-skilled, and none-skilled workers in their organizational setups. 

Other sectors or economic agents which are linked with leather industry, efficiently employ skilled labor-force, salesforce, supervisory and managerial staff in their business setups which include standalone shops, upscale markets, retailors, modern shopping malls, distribution channels, leather crafting units, dyeing houses, providers of natural tannins, intermediaries of adhesives, tool making houses, suppliers of textiles, machinery suppliers, makers of different types of chemicals, and others.

Poverty Alleviation

In developing countries, those poor workers who are engaged with leather industry tend to benefit from getting employment in different areas like tanneries, manufacturing units, dyeing houses, stitching and cutting divisions, distribution channels, Marketing and Sales Divisions who look after business of finished leather and various stylish leather goods.

Poor laborers earn regular income which provide them basic foods, clothing, and shelters to their family members, so, as a positive result, these economic activities which are generated through leather industry tend to reduce incidence of poverty in the under-developed countries.

Benefits of International Trades

Those nations which have comparative advantage of producing leather material and in the manufacturing of leather goods such as quality hides and skins of different animals, shoes, boots, handbags, bags, briefcases, jackets, furniture, and lots of accessories, respectively, are in a good position to export their semi-finished and finished products in the international markets.

Therefore, as a result, trading partners earn considerable foreign exchange and create prosperity among participating factors of production.

What are the Raw Materials Used in Leather Industry?

Leather industry is the byproduct of meat, cattle, and dairy product-based sectors which combining provide tanneries quality hides and skins. 

The main raw materials used for tanneries are hides and skins which are obtained from different animal sources such as hides of cows, buffaloes, bovines, skins of goats, sheeps, deer, exotic skins, and different kinds of enzymes, tannin compounds, and other chemicals.

Raw hides and skins are salted, dehaired, cleansed, limed, re-washed, tanned, and meticulously processed through different time-consuming stages on the factory premises, so, as a good result, finished leather is produced that is further used in constructing elegant, attractive, sturdy, long lasting, comfortable, and well-designed leather products which are long-term money investment choices for buyers due to lasting durability and longevity.

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Which Segment Uses the Most Leather?

Market based research studies reveal that footwear segment consumes the most leather production all over the world and its market size is expected to grow in the days to follow. 

Men, women, and all fashion followers like to wear shoes, boots, slippers and sandals constructed from leather because these are comfy, durable, stylish, long-lasting, timeless, strong, and breathable.

Leather shoes show attractive appearance, glossy surface, high-end finishing touch, contain soft lining, cushioned footbed, nice toplines, sturdy backstay, stacked heels, and strongly stitched outer soles which combining provide comfort, relaxation, control, and grip to feet of wearers.

Leather shoes adequately protect feet, fingers, toes, tarsal bones, insteps, arches, and heels of people from pain, skin irritation, allergies, bad rashes, and discomfort, so, unique styles, elegant designs, and practical importance of leather shoes will never see an end point until this earth planet exists.

Image's Source: Pixabay

What are the Main Uses of Leather?

Though, leather is worked, shaped, and designed into various goods, but main segments of leathercraft are footwear, clothing, handbags, furniture, and lots of accessories like shin guards, gloves, footballs, hats, belts, caps, many more items which are manufactured for different sectors of sport.

Major chunks of leather are used for making shoes, boots, sandals, and slippers which are nicely designed, beautifully crafted, and strongly stitched for enhancing level of comfort and convenience for people.

As far as international market for footwear is concerned, you can see that according to the estimate of Statista, in year 2022, the global footwear market was estimated to be worth US$ 381.9 billion and was projected to grow significantly over the proceeding years, reaching about US$ 455 billion by year 2027.

Competition Among Leather Producers

There is a tough competition for producing and manufacturing leather and leather products among those countries which have strong cattle breeding and upkeeping nurseries, organized dairy farms, strong supply chains of hides and skins, and more importantly, these countries run state-of-the-art factories on large scale which manufacture and craft leather goods not only for local consumption but they also export leather goods to earn huge foreign exchange.

Who is the largest Producer of Leather?

China is still the number one country who produces and manufactures most of the leather and leather goods and export them all over the world. Chinese leather production exceeds almost more than 6.0 billion Square Feet per year and they are well ahead of Brazil, Italy, Russia, India, Indonesia, Turkey, and Korea as far as leather production is concerned.

China is ranked number in manufacturing and crafting of shoes, boots, clothing, and other footwear besides making quality handbags, and varieties of stylish accessories.

Market Importance of Leather Industry

Leather and leather goods will never go out of fashion and style, besides providing great level of practicality, comfortability, durability, sturdiness, and longevity from which consumers of leather goods derive enormous benefits.

Importance of leather industry will continue to rise in coming days, because products made of real leather are durable, long-lasting, comfortable, fascinating, attractive, fashion appealing, stylish, and highly traded worldwide, so, according to the research of Acumen Research and Consulting, the global leather market size will arrive at around US$ 626.1 billion by year 2028.

Conclusion

Leather fabric and goods constructed from it show attractive appearance, smooth surface, high-end finishing touch, contain gentle inner sides, material comfort, softness, suppleness, flexibility, and natural breathability, so that is why people like to wear and use leather goods worldwide.

Leather products are not only strong, durable, longer lasting, timeless, and fascinating, but these have also become long-term investment choices for people because they continue to wear and use them for the longest span of time!

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