World Footwear

Trade

Leather footwear drives positive performance of Bangladesh’s leather industry

Jan 24, 2025 Bangladesh
Leather footwear drives positive performance of Bangladesh’s leather industry
Between July and December 2024, Bangladeshi leather footwear exports were up by 30% year-on-year, countering the negative performance of leather goods and finished leather exports
According to data released by the Export Promotion Bureau of the Government of Bangladesh, total leather exports reached 577.29 million US dollars from July to December 2024, an increase of 10.44% over the same period last fiscal year, but 1.56% lower than the strategic target of 586.43 million US dollars set for the period.

These figures were mainly boosted by the leather footwear segment, as the leather goods and finished leather exports remain in the red.

More specifically, in the first five months of the current fiscal year, leather footwear exports generated 352.65 million US dollars, up by 30.80% from the same period in fiscal 2023-2024 and 14.93% above the strategic target of 306.83 million US dollars set for the period.

On the contrary, during this five-month period, exports of leather goods declined by 11.11% to 162.16 million US dollars and finished leather exports declined by 11.65% to 62.48 million US dollars, as compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year. Both were below the strategic targets set for the period by 18.08% and 23.49% respectively.

The data also shows that, from July to December, other footwear exports totalled 273.89 million US dollars, an increase of 39.1% on a comparable basis to the first five months of the 2023-2024 fiscal year and 17.76% higher than the strategic target of 232.59 million US dollars set for the period


Bangladeshi Leather Industry

According to the World Footwear 2024 Yearbook (more information available HERE), over the past decade, Bangladesh has emerged as one of the top 10 global footwear producers with rapidly growing exports. The industry is pursuing initiatives in logistics, digitalization and skill development to enhance competitiveness. However, in 2023, exports fell by 25%, mainly due to a decline in imports from the US.


Image Credits: aboodi vesakaran on Unsplash



Related Organizations

  • LFMEAB - Leathergoods & Footwear Manufacturers & Exports Association of Bangladesh

    LFMEAB - Leathergoods & Footwear Manufacturers & Exports Association of Bangladesh

    Bangladesh
  • BTA - Bangladesh Tanners Association

    BTA - Bangladesh Tanners Association

    Bangladesh
  • Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leather goods and Footwear Exporters' Association

    Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leather goods and Footwear Exporters' Association

    Bangladesh
  • COEL - Centre of Excellence for Leather Skill Bangladesh Limited

    COEL - Centre of Excellence for Leather Skill Bangladesh Limited

    Bangladesh