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🌐 UN Comtrade Data: Global Trade in Raw Hides, Skins, and Furskins (SITC 21)
The Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) Division 21 covers "Hides, skins and furskins, raw," serving as the foundational raw material for the global leather and fur manufacturing industries.
For detailed analysis, we use the corresponding Harmonized System (HS) Code 41 (Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather) as the global proxy for SITC 21.
📊 Top Global Trade Roles for Raw Hides & Skins (2023)
This table illustrates the trade relationships by identifying the key roles economies play in the global supply chain, based on their trade performance.
| Rank | Top Exporters (Value in USD Billions) | Top Importers (Value in USD Billions) | Net Exporters (Trade Surplus in USD Billions) |
| 1 | EU Processing Hub ($3.27B) | Asian Manufacturing Giant ($2.78B) | EU Processing Hub ($1.11B) |
| 2 | North American Producer ($1.48B) | EU Processing Hub ($2.17B) | South American Producer ($1.08B) |
| 3 | South American Producer ($1.16B) | Southeast Asian Manufacturer ($1.36B) | North American Producer ($0.96B) |
| 4 | Western European Nation A ($1.09B) | East Asian Processor ($0.68B) | South American Nation B ($0.47B) |
| 5 | Western European Nation B ($0.94B) | Southeast Asian Processor ($0.56B) | European Nation C ($0.43B) |
Data Source: UN Comtrade / OEC (HS 41), 2023. Roles are conceptual proxies for the largest trading economies in these regions.
📝 Conclusion: Structural Dynamics and Market Headwinds
The trade in raw hides and skins is characterized by a flow of animal by-products from livestock-heavy economies to regions specializing in tanning and finishing.
Manufacturing Gravity: The primary importers, labeled the Asian Manufacturing Giant and Southeast Asian Manufacturers, represent regions with massive capacity for mass-producing finished leather goods (e.g., footwear, bags). These economies drive demand for raw materials globally.
The By-Product Flow: North and South American Producers maintain large trade surpluses because hides are a necessary by-product of their vast meat industries. Their raw material output far exceeds their domestic processing needs, leading to significant exports.
EU's Value-Added Niche: The EU Processing Hub holds a unique position, acting as both a major exporter and importer, and possessing the largest trade surplus. This reflects its specialization in importing raw hides for high-quality, value-added tanning and finishing before re-exporting premium leather materials.
Market Contraction: The global trade value for this category is under pressure, experiencing a long-term decline. This is largely attributed to:
Alternative Materials: Increasing adoption of synthetic, vegan, and bio-based leather alternatives across various industries.
Sustainability Concerns: Growing consumer and regulatory focus on the environmental and ethical impact of conventional leather production.
In sum, the SITC 21 market is defined by the fundamental transfer of raw materials from agricultural economies to industrial processors, a dynamic currently challenged by shifting consumer demand and technological disruption.
🗺️ UN Comtrade Data: Global Exports of Raw Hides, Skins, and Furskins (SITC 21) by Region
The global trade flow of SITC Division 21 (Hides, skins and furskins, raw) is characterized by the movement of raw materials from regions with large livestock production to specialized processing and manufacturing hubs.
Since UN Comtrade's regional aggregates for this specific code are not directly available in a single snapshot, the analysis is presented by aggregating major trading nations into key geographic and economic regions using the HS Code 41 proxy (Raw hides and skins and leather).
📊 Raw Hides & Skins Exports by Major Region (2023 Estimates)
The table below provides an estimated breakdown of the export market share based on the top trading nations for the HS 41 proxy, reflecting the core suppliers of this commodity.
| Rank | Exporting Region/Bloc | Estimated Share of Global Exports | Key Role in Global Supply Chain |
| 1 | European Union (EU) | ~50% | Premium Processing Hub (High-value tanned/crust leather re-exports) |
| 2 | North America | ~15% | Large Livestock By-Product Supplier (Raw, lower-value hides) |
| 3 | Latin America | ~12% | Major Livestock By-Product Supplier (Raw, agricultural exports) |
| 4 | Asia-Pacific | ~10% | Emerging Processors/Regional Suppliers (Mixed raw/semi-processed trade) |
| 5 | Other Regions | ~13% | Varied Producers/Small Suppliers |
Note: Percentages are estimates based on aggregating the 2023 trade values (HS 41) of the largest country-level exporters within each geographic region. Total global trade in 2023 for the HS 41 proxy was approximately $16.6 Billion.
📝 Conclusion: Regional Specialization in Trade
The regional export data highlights a distinct geographical specialization in the raw hides and skins market:
European Dominance (The EU Processing Hub): The EU, anchored by economies specializing in tanning and finishing, stands as the largest exporter. This leadership is not solely in raw hides, but in high-value, semi-processed (tanned/crust) leather, which falls under the same HS 41 code. They import raw materials, add significant value through tanning, and then re-export the intermediate product to manufacturers globally.
Americas as Raw Material Suppliers: North and Latin America, driven by massive cattle production, are critical net exporters of raw (un-tanned) hides. These regions supply the bulk of the basic commodity as a by-product of their primary meat industry, flowing primarily to Asian manufacturing centers.
Asia's Dual Role: The Asia-Pacific region acts mainly as the world's largest importer (due to manufacturing demand), but its exports are growing. This signifies the presence of both regional suppliers and large manufacturing hubs that also trade processed intermediate goods.
In essence, the global export market for SITC 21 is divided: the Americas export volume of raw by-products, while Europe exports value in the form of processed materials.
%20by%20Country.jpg "UN Comtrade Data: Global Exports of Raw Hides, Skins, and Furskins (SITC 21) by Country")
📦 UN Comtrade Data: Global Exports of Raw Hides, Skins, and Furskins (SITC 21) by Country
The Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) Division 21 covers "Hides, skins and furskins, raw," a critical category representing the raw material input for the global leather and fur industries.
To provide the most current and detailed analysis by country, we use data from the closely aligned Harmonized System (HS) Code 41 (Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather). The table below focuses on the top global performers in Exports and their resultant Net Trade Balance.
📈 Top Global Exporters of Raw Hides & Skins (2023)
| Rank | Top Exporters (Value in USD Billions) | Imports (Value in USD Billions) | Net Trade Balance (Surplus/Deficit in USD Billions) | Primary Role in Supply Chain |
| 1 | Italy ($3.27B) | $2.17B | +$1.11B (Surplus) | Value-Added Processing/Re-Export Hub |
| 2 | United States ($1.48B) | $0.52B (Estimate) | +$0.96B (Surplus) | Major Livestock By-Product Supplier |
| 3 | Brazil ($1.16B) | $0.08B (Estimate) | +$1.08B (Surplus) | Major Livestock By-Product Supplier |
| 4 | Germany ($1.09B) | $0.62B (Estimate) | +$0.47B (Surplus) | European Raw Material Trader/Processor |
| 5 | France ($0.94B) | $0.42B (Estimate) | +$0.52B (Surplus) | European Raw Material Trader/Processor |
Data Source: UN Comtrade / OEC (HS 41), 2023. Net Trade Balance is calculated as (Exports - Imports).
📝 Conclusion: Export Roles and Value Addition
The top global exporters of raw hides and skins can be grouped into two distinct models that define the trade dynamics of SITC 21:
High-Volume Raw Material Exporters (Americas): The United States and Brazil are massive net exporters with significant trade surpluses. As two of the world's largest cattle producers, their hide output is a direct by-product of the meat industry. Their exports consist mainly of raw (un-tanned) hides, supplying the foundational commodity to global tanneries, particularly in Asia.
High-Value Processing Exporters (Europe): Italy, Germany, and France dominate the top export ranks, but their trade model is different. They import raw hides, apply high-tech, specialized tanning and finishing processes, and then re-export the material as high-quality tanned or crust leather (which remains within the HS 41 proxy category). Italy's top rank in both exports and net surplus underscores its leading role as the global hub for value addition in this sector.
Despite strong export performance from these key countries, the overall global trade value for the SITC 21 proxy has been shrinking, reflecting challenges from shifting consumer preferences towards synthetic and non-animal materials, alongside sustained pressure from environmental regulations.
%20by%20Region.jpg "UN Comtrade Data: Value of Global Imports of Raw Hides, Skins, and Furskins (SITC 21) by Region")
🌍 UN Comtrade Data: Value of Global Imports of Raw Hides, Skins, and Furskins (SITC 21) by Region
The trade in Raw Hides, Skins, and Furskins (SITC Division 21) is highly concentrated, with the vast majority of import value flowing to two main global processing regions. This clearly delineates where raw materials are converted into intermediate and finished leather goods.
To analyze this, the figures are based on the Harmonized System (HS) Code 41 proxy (Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather). The total global import value for this proxy was approximately $16.6 Billion in 2023.
📊 Raw Hides & Skins Imports by Major Region (2023 Estimates)
The table below shows the estimated distribution of the global import market share for raw hides and skins, highlighting the key industrial role each region plays.
| Rank | Importing Region/Bloc | Estimated Import Value (USD Billions) | Estimated Share of Global Imports | Primary Role in Global Supply Chain |
| 1 | Asia-Pacific | ~$8.3B | ~50% | Mass Manufacturing & Tanning Hub (High-volume production) |
| 2 | European Union (EU) | ~$5.8B | ~35% | Premium Tanning & Finishing Center (Value-added processing) |
| 3 | North America | ~$0.8B | ~5% | Domestic Consumption & Specialized Processing |
| 4 | Other Regions | ~$1.7B | ~10% | Regional Processors (e.g., Latin America, Middle East, Africa) |
Note: Values and percentages are estimates based on aggregating the 2023 trade data (HS 41) of the largest importing countries within each major geographic region.
📝 Conclusion: Regional Processing Concentration
The import value data illustrates a global trade system where raw materials converge on highly specialized processing centers:
Asia's Volume Demand: The Asia-Pacific region, driven by countries like China, Vietnam, and South Korea, is the dominant importer by value, consuming half of the world's traded raw hides and skins. This confirms its role as the global mass manufacturing hub for footwear, garments, and other leather products.
Europe's Value Demand: The European Union commands a substantial second-place share. This value is driven by countries like Italy, which import raw material to apply advanced, high-value tanning and finishing techniques, creating the premium leather used in the luxury and automotive sectors before use or re-export.
Global Flow: The trade is a classic raw material flow: hides, which are a by-product of livestock industries (primarily in the Americas), flow directly to the high-capacity tanneries and manufacturing plants located in Asia and the EU.
The overall import market value is contracting, with a significant decline of over 12% in 2023. This points to ongoing challenges from competition with synthetic materials and evolving consumer tastes.
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💰 UN Comtrade Data: Value of Global Imports of Raw Hides, Skins, and Furskins (SITC 21) by Country
The global market for Raw Hides, Skins, and Furskins (SITC Division 21) is best understood by tracking import values, as they clearly show the countries with the largest demand for processing these materials.
Using the closely aligned Harmonized System (HS) Code 41 proxy (Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather), the following table details the monetary value of imports for the top global players in 2023.
📈 Top Importer Values and Market Concentration (2023)
The total global import value for this proxy was approximately $16.6 Billion in 2023.
| Rank | Top Importer Country | Import Value (USD Billions) | Key Role in Global Supply Chain |
| 1 | China | $2.78B | Mass Manufacturing Hub (High-volume production of footwear, garments) |
| 2 | Italy | $2.17B | Premium Tanning & Finishing Center (Luxury goods, high-quality leather) |
| 3 | Vietnam | $1.36B | Major Manufacturing & Processing Center (Footwear, general leather goods) |
| 4 | South Korea | $0.68B | Automotive & General Leather Processor |
| 5 | Indonesia | $0.56B | General Leather Goods Manufacturer |
Data Source: UN Comtrade / OEC (HS 41), 2023. These figures represent the monetary value of imported goods.
📝 Conclusion: Concentration of Import Demand and Market Headwinds
The import value data highlights the global flow of raw hides and skins toward concentrated industrial centers, illustrating a clear separation between raw material suppliers and manufacturers.
Asian Manufacturing Core: China and Vietnam dominate the import market, confirming their role as the world's primary mass manufacturing hubs for high-volume leather goods. Their high import value reflects the immense scale of their production capacity for export.
European Value-Added: Italy maintains a vital position, demonstrating that high import value is not only about volume but also about value addition. Italy imports raw materials for its advanced, high-quality tanning sector, reinforcing its status as the global center for premium leather and luxury goods.
Market Contraction: A critical trend is the significant decline in total global trade value (over 12% in 2023). This reduction is not necessarily due to a drop in volume, but rather price compression caused by global oversupply and structural changes. The entire market is currently facing headwinds from:
Substitution: Increasing use of synthetic and sustainable material alternatives in key industries like automotive and fashion.
Environmental Scrutiny: Growing regulatory and consumer pressure on the environmental impact of traditional tanning processes.
In essence, the import market for SITC 21 is highly consolidated, with its future being increasingly shaped by technological substitution and shifts in global manufacturing costs.
%20by%20Country.jpg "UN Comtrade Data: Export and Import Growth for Raw Hides, Skins, and Furskins (SITC 21) by Country")
📉 UN Comtrade Data: Export and Import Growth for Raw Hides, Skins, and Furskins (SITC 21) by Country
The global trade for Raw Hides, Skins, and Furskins (SITC Division 21) faced significant headwinds in 2023, with the overall market value declining due to factors like global oversupply and shifting consumer preferences.
Analyzing the export growth for the largest players helps identify which countries are adapting well to the market contraction and which are struggling. The figures below are based on the closest available trade classification proxy (HS Code 41, Raw hides and skins and leather).
📊 Top Exporting Countries: Value and Growth Dynamics (2023)
| Rank | Exporter Country | 2023 Export Value (USD Billions) | Year-on-Year Growth (2022 to 2023) | Key Observation |
| 1 | Italy | $3.27B | Stable Growth / Slight Increase | Maintains value leadership, confirming strength in premium re-export. |
| 2 | United States | $1.48B | Stable Trend | Continues as a major supplier of raw hides (by-product). |
| 3 | Brazil | $1.16B | Consistent Export Value | Key exporter of raw bovine hides; trade value holds steady. |
| 4 | Germany | $1.09B | Stable Trend | Major European trader and processor. |
| 5 | France | $0.94B | Stable Trend | European supplier within the regional trade network. |
| 6 | Australia | $0.36B | -9.76% Decrease | Export value contraction, possibly due to price volatility or volume changes. |
| 7 | Indonesia | $0.089B | -15.9% Decrease | Significant decline in export value, reflecting severe market pressures. |
📝Value Addition Outperforms Raw Supply
The 2023 export growth data for raw hides and skins demonstrates a clear split between countries focused on value addition and those focused on raw supply:
Resilience in Value-Added Exports: European exporters like Italy showed relative stability or even slight growth in their export value. This stability stems from the fact that they primarily export processed (tanned or crust) leather, which commands a higher price and is more insulated from the price drops affecting the purely raw commodity market. Their success is driven by value addition and specialization.
Contraction in Raw Suppliers: Conversely, many suppliers of basic raw hides (e.g., Australia, Indonesia) saw their export values contract sharply. This reflects the intense price compression in the raw commodity market, which was challenged by global oversupply from major producers (like the Americas) and reduced purchasing appetite from Asian manufacturing hubs.
In summary, the market is favoring exporters that have successfully moved up the value chain by transforming the raw hide into a higher-value, processed good before exporting it.
📊 Top Importing Countries: Value and Growth Dynamics (2023)
The table highlights the largest importers by value and their year-on-year growth (or decline) in import value for 2023.
| Rank | Importer Country | 2023 Import Value (USD Billions) | Year-on-Year Growth (2022 to 2023) | Key Observation |
| 1 | China | $2.78B | Contraction | Reduced raw material intake due to economic pressures and lower export orders. |
| 2 | Italy | $2.17B | Contraction | Lower demand for raw/intermediate hides, reflecting caution in premium sector. |
| 3 | Vietnam | $1.36B | Contraction | Decline in manufacturing demand, particularly footwear sector. |
| 4 | South Korea | $0.68B | Contraction | Reduced imports, aligning with general Asian manufacturing slowdown. |
| 5 | Indonesia | $0.55B | -6.27% Decrease | Clear reduction in import value, signaling market cooling. |
| 6 | United Kingdom | $0.165B | -17.1% Decrease | Sharp drop, reflecting significant reduced raw material demand. |
📝 Widespread Contraction in Global Processing
The import growth data for 2023 confirms a significant cooling period across the global leather supply chain, impacting nearly all major processing nations:
Uniform Contraction: The most critical takeaway is that all top importers experienced a contraction in the value of their raw hides and skins imports. This is a direct result of the overall market decline, driven by falling raw material prices (price compression) and reduced final demand for manufactured leather goods.
Asian Manufacturing Slowdown: Major Asian manufacturing hubs (China, Vietnam, South Korea) saw import values shrink, signaling a difficult year for their export-oriented leather industries due to fewer international orders for finished products like footwear and garments.
European Caution: Even Italy, the premium processing hub, saw its import value contract. This suggests that tanneries are either drawing down inventory or adopting a cautious approach to purchasing raw stock given the volatile market and economic uncertainty.
In summary, the 2023 data strongly indicates that the entire global processing chain for SITC 21 pulled back on raw material purchases, underscoring the severity of the market headwinds facing the leather industry.
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💰 UN Comtrade Data: High-Value Imports of Wet-Blue Leather by Country (2023)
The classification Raw Hides, Skins, and Furskins (SITC Division 21) primarily covers unprocessed animal skins. However, to analyze the high-value trade within this supply chain, attention must be given to the first preserved and semi-finished product: Wet-Blue Leather. This intermediate commodity commands a significantly higher price than raw hides and represents the flow of materials into the world's most specialized leather finishing and manufacturing centers. Wet-Blue Leather is hide that has been chrome-tanned, making it stable and ready for the final, most specialized, and value-adding finishing stages.
The following table shows the top global importers of Wet-Blue Leather (a subset of HS Code 4104, Tanned or Crust Hides and Skins) by value in 2023, identifying the nations that focus on the specialized finishing and manufacturing of high-quality leather goods.
| Rank | Importer Country | 2023 Import Value (USD Millions)* | Primary Role in Global Supply Chain |
| 1 | China | $169M | Mass Finishing & Manufacturing Hub for high-volume leather goods. |
| 2 | Vietnam | $127M | Major processing center, especially for global Footwear brands. |
| 3 | Italy | $90.1M | Premium Finishing Center for high-grade, luxury finished leather. |
| 4 | Turkey | High Volume (Specific Value Varies) | Significant regional manufacturing and finishing center. |
| 5 | India | High Volume (Specific Value Varies) | Large domestic and export-oriented tanning and leather goods sector. |
*Note: Values are specifically for "Tanned or crust hides and skins: bovine or equine... in the wet state (including wet blue)..." in 2023. This is a proxy for the high-value intermediate trade.
📝 Conclusion: Imports Drive Value-Chain Specialization
The import data for this high-value intermediate commodity confirms a strategic global division of labor and a shift toward specialization in the leather industry:
Strategic Outsourcing of Tanning: The largest importers bypass the raw tanning step—which is highly regulated and produces significant effluent—by importing Wet-Blue. This allows them to focus their industrial capital on the more profitable final stages of crusting, coloring, and product manufacturing.
Manufacturing Concentration: China and Vietnam dominate the import value, underscoring their function as the world's primary mass manufacturing hubs. They convert the imported Wet-Blue into finished products like footwear and apparel for global markets.
Quality and Luxury Focus: Italy's substantial import value secures its position as the global leader in premium leather. Italy imports high-value Wet-Blue to apply its specialized finishing techniques, maintaining its dominance in the luxury sector where quality and craftsmanship command the highest prices.
In essence, these import values trace the convergence of the global leather supply chain toward high-capacity processing nations, highlighting the increasing trend of outsourcing the raw tanning process to focus on higher-margin finishing and manufacturing.