SME Times News Bureau | 31 Dec, 2011
Due to rising demand from new markets like Latin America and the Middle-East, leather exports from India grew 30 percent year-on-year to about USD 380 million in September, reports media.

"We are getting a good response from these markets," a Council for Leather Exports (CLE) official said.

He said, however, that the demand is weak in western markets like the US and Europe.

America and Europe account for about 80 percent of the country''s total leather exports.

Leather garments topped the chart with a 55 percent growth, followed by footwear components - 36 percent, leather goods - 28 percent and finished leather - 18 percent.

During the April-September period of 2011-12 fiscal, leather exports have grown 27 percent to USD 2.3 billion, compared to the same period last fiscal.

CLE had set the export target of USD 4 billion for the fiscal. During 2010-11, leather exports had grown 13 percent to USD 3.8 billion, compared to the previous year.