The leather industry covers main sectors such as tanning, shoemaking, leather clothing, leather goods, furs and their products, as well as supporting industries including leather chemicals, leather hardware, leather machinery, and auxiliary materials. It features a high degree of correlation between upstream and downstream sectors, being driven by the market, having evergreen products, and integrating foreign exchange earnings, people's prosperity, and employment.
After adjusting and optimizing its structure, China's leather industry has initially formed a number of leather production characteristic regions and professional markets across the country with clear professional division of labor, prominent characteristics, and a pivotal role in driving the local economy. Their formation has laid the foundation for the development of China's leather industry.
In an increasingly competitive market environment, it is no easy feat for China's leather industry to achieve such results, which also proves the vitality and strength of China's leather industry. The market potential for leather and its products is huge. The global total demand for leather is approximately 100 million square meters, equivalent to the output of 300 million cowhides (standard hides). China's leather output, converted into standard hides, is nearly 70 million, accounting for about 23.33% of the global leather output. However, enterprises in China's leather shoemaking and related industries should also face up to the fact that we have shortcomings in many aspects in the 21st century. Although China is a major leather-producing country in the world, it is not a powerful leather country, and still lags behind in terms of quality and value. It needs to be honed and improved in this market environment.
