Leather Industry

Plant-based leather gains traction, but costs rise due to limited infra

Local brands in India have been a step ahead and have already established various products using vegan leather

Leather exporters to visit Russia from Aug 26 to tap biz opportunities

A delegation of over 20 leather sector executives will be visiting Russia this month to seek investments and tap growing export opportunities. The three-day visit will start from August 26. Council for Leather Exports Executive Director R Selvam said that at present India is exporting leather goods in the range of USD 60 million to USD 80 million, but it is low as huge opportunities are there in Russia. "We will also participate in an international fair - Euro Shoes Premier Collection in Moscow. We are taking a delegation with an aim to attract investments, technology collaboration in tannery and product manufacturing," Selvam told PTI. He said that huge export opportunities are there in areas like leather garments, goods and footwear. Though there are payment issues in Russia due to Western countries' sanctions on account of the Russia-Ukraine war, exporters who are dealing in Rupee can ship the goods. The export of leather, leather products and footwear rose from USD 44.84 mill

Niti Aayog looking at tax related issues of engineering, textile industry

Government think-tank Niti Aayog is looking at tax-related issues, including inverted duty structure in three sectors of engineering, leather, and textiles, an official said on Monday. The issues are likely to be taken up with higher authorities for their resolution to promote the growth of these sectors, the official said. Industry representatives of leather and engineering sectors said that they have shared a list of GST (Goods and Services Tax) and inverted duty structure-related issues with the Niti Aayog. "We expect the government to resolve those issues as it would help in promoting manufacturing and exports from the country," an industry official said. The leather sector has recommended the reinstatement of basic customs duty on the import of wet blue, crust and finished leathers. The exercise assumes significance as these three sectors are labour-intensive and contribute significantly to the country's merchandise exports. The leather and footwear industry employs 4.42 mi

Do not extend PLI for small firm-dominated products: GTRI to Govt

The government should not extend fiscal support under the production linked incentive scheme (PLI) to small firm-dominated products like leather shoes and handicraft as the move may shift business away from those enterprises, think tank GTRI said in a report on Monday. Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said small firms need assistance like access to technology and low-cost finance and not PLI. It also said PLI for industries like food processing or auto, where many domestic manufacturers make similar products, introduces competitive distortion by giving money to a few firms. "PLI money at the rate 4-6 per cent of incremental sales could increase profit margins by 30-40 per cent, giving a considerable price advantage over others," GTRI Co-Founder Ajay Srivastava said. He said non-PLI recipients suffer for no fault and the scheme should avoid incentivizing such sectors. It should focus only on cutting-edge product groups where India has no manufacturing capabilities, he added.

DPIIT seeks GST rate reduction for certain segments of leather sector

Leather products exporters have also expressed resentment over the hike in the GST from 5 per cent to 12 per cent on finished leather

Bantala leather complex will get Rs 10,000 cr additional investment: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said the Bantala leather complex in Kolkata will get an additional investment of Rs 10,000 crore. In the last one year, 92 new tanneries have been given land lease for setting up units in the complex, she said. "At Bantala, Rs 30,000 crore have been invested that generated employment for three lakh people. Another Rs 10,000 crore will be invested," Banerjee said at a programme here in Howrah district. There are 50 units at Bantala and 50 more are coming up, the CM said. Banerjee on Thursday also laid the foundation stone of several projects and extended government services to six lakh people in five districts - Howrah, Hooghly, South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas and Nadia. She said the Duare Sarkar' (government at doorstep) scheme will be held every three months. Nine crore applications for the scheme were received by the state government, of which seven crore have been considered, the chief minister said. Efforts are unde

Apparel, drugs, and leather exporters under scanner for tax scheme misuse

Sources say refunds of 600 entities not being processed

India has potential to become world leader in footwear, leather: Goyal

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said India has the potential to become a world leader in the footwear and leather sector

Drawing new scheme for machinery manufacturing for leather industry: Goyal

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said the government is considering a new scheme to support domestic manufacturing of machinery and accessories used in the leather industry. He also expressed hope that the country's exports during the current fiscal would register a high growth rate in both goods and services compared to 2021-22. In 2021-22, exports of goods and services touched an all-time high of USD 676 billion. "We are trying to draw up a new scheme to support manufacturing of machinery domestically, to support manufacturing of trimming or embellishments and other accessories that may be required in your industry," Goyal said here at an event of Council for Leather Exports (CLE). On the council's demand for the reinstatement of basic customs duty exemption on the wet blue crust and finished leather, Goyal assured them to take up the matter with the concerned ministry. According to CLE, such leathers are mainly imported by domestic exporters for making ...

Diwali an auspicious date to sign India-UK FTA: British High Commissioner

Currently, both countries are at the last leg of negotiations towards a trade deal that kick-started in January

Leather, footwear exports to cross $6 billion in 2022-23: CLE

The industry is also urging the government to extend the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme to the sector.

India should aim to achieve over $10 bn leather exports by 2025: Goyal

India should aim to achieve more than $10 billion worth of leather exports by 2025, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, said on Wednesday.

India seeks duty free market access for leather goods under FTAs

India is seeking duty free market access for its leather goods in countries, including UAE, UK and Australia, with which it is negotiating Free Trade Agreements to boost manufacturing and exports

Leather products to get costlier after 10% customs duty, say manufacturers

'Customs duty hike to make leather expensive', said Alberto Torresi director

Plug-and-play model the missing link in leather, footwear sector: R Selvam

India is the second largest global producer of footwear with 2.6 billion pairs/year in 2019, whereas China ranks first with 13.47 billion pairs

Lack of R&D, funding, and vision holding back Indian leather makers

The third of a 5-part series analyses the reasons behind the shrinking foothold of the sector

Post lockdown, UP green panel shuts 50% capacity of Kanpur tanneries

Issues monthly roster for tanneries to operate for 15 days each by rotation

Leather industry seeks policy, infra makeover to reduce imports from China

According to commerce ministry data, India imported leather and leather products worth $1.01 billion in FY20

Kanpur tanneries start functioning tomorrow amid labour crunch, few orders

Though they have very few orders in hand right now, they are pinning hopes on leather units catering to the defence sector and police for safety shoes

Govt working to identify key sectors for making India a manufacturing hub

The manufacturing sector contributes about 15 per cent in the country's economy and the government is aiming to increase it significantly