INDUSTRY OVERVIEW:

USD 5 billion annual export by next few years. Leather industry is the second highest donor to national exports after apparel. There has been a steady progress of the lather sector which has attained 11.93% growth in the first half of current fiscal year (2016-2017). This sector exceeded the export target by 9.64%, fetching $628 million from exports against the target of $572 million during July - December period. Bangladesh earned $560 million from leather and leather products exports in the same period of FY 2015-16. The annual Target for current fiscal year set at $1.22 billion which is expected to exceed by June, 2017. Bangladesh exported leather and leather goods worth $1.13 billion and $1.16 billion respectively in FY 2014-15 and FY 2015-16.

At this time, 220 tanneries, 2500 footwear manufacturing units and 100+ large firms are involved in the leather and leather goods sector. This sector is contributing 4% to the country's total export income by exporting items to more than 50 countries. The LFMEAB report said Japan and Germany are now the biggest markets for Bangladeshi footwear which is also exported to Italy, the UK, France, Belgium, the USA, Sweden, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Canada and Korea. Footwear exports record impressive growth During the fiscal year 2014-2015, Bangladesh exported footwear worth $128.18 million to Germany, $95.22 million to Japan, $82.64 million to the USA, $57.39 million to Spain, $37.16 million Italy, $24.31 million to France, $14.94 million to the UK and $7.58 million to the UAE. International brands like Adidas, Aldo, Timberland, Marks & Spencer, Clarks, Espirit, ABC Mart, Nike, Wal-Mart, K-Mart Sears, and Nine West, Gucci, Reebok, Michael Kors, Picard, Sportcraft, Max & Co and R.M. Williams are sourcing from Bangladesh for quality and price.