Top Leather Producing & Exporting Countries in 2026

The top leather producing & exporting countries are not necessarily the same. Production depends largely on the supply of animal hides and skins and domestic tanning capacity, while export rankings depend on the specific leather product being traded. China, India, Brazil, Italy, Pakistan, and Turkey are all important participants in the global leather supply chain, but their strengths differ by product and stage of production.

For broader market context, see our analysis of the global leather industry in 2026.

Top Leather Producing Countries

There is no single current global dataset that provides a directly comparable 2026 ranking of finished leather production by country. Published datasets often measure raw hides and skins, tannery output, or individual leather types separately.

A useful comparable indicator is raw bovine hides and skins, the principal raw material for much of the leather industry.

The latest comparable country table identified in the ICT/FAO series reports 2015 production in million pieces:

The figures are raw bovine hides and skins, not finished leather. That distinction matters when comparing leather-producing countries. (Leather Council)

FAO also explains that hides and skins are primarily by-products of the meat industry, meaning their availability is strongly connected to livestock slaughter rather than leather demand alone. (FAOHome)

What This Production Data Tells Us

India, China, and Brazil stand out as major sources of bovine hides in the comparable dataset. Pakistan also has a substantial raw-hide base, while Italy’s importance in leather is better understood through high-value processing and manufacturing, rather than raw hide volume.

This is why a country should not automatically be called the “world’s largest leather producer” without defining exactly what is being measured.

Top Leather Exporting Countries

Export rankings provide a more current and comparable picture when a specific HS classification is used.

For example, World Bank WITS data from UN Comtrade shows that in 2024, Italy was the leading individual-country exporter under HS 420310 — Articles of apparel of leather, followed by India, France and Pakistan. (World Integrated Trade Solution)

The European Union appears separately in WITS at $667.1M, but it is a reporting bloc rather than an individual country and should not be mixed into the country ranking. (World Integrated Trade Solution)

Italy Leads Leather Apparel Exports

Italy’s $569.8 million in 2024 leather-apparel exports under HS 420310 placed it ahead of every individual country in this dataset. India followed at $336.2 million.

This illustrates an important difference between manufacturing scale and export value: a country can have enormous manufacturing capacity without leading every specific leather-product category.

Pakistan’s Position

Pakistan exported $223.5 million of leather apparel under HS 420310 in 2024, ranking fourth among individual countries in the dataset. Germany was its largest destination at $57.45 million, followed by the United States at $33.71 million, Russia at $17.18 million, the UK at $15.25 million, and the Netherlands at $14.67 million. 

This is one reason Pakistan is particularly relevant for buyers sourcing leather apparel and jackets. Brands evaluating suppliers can also review our guide to reliable leather manufacturers in Pakistan.

China vs. India vs. Italy vs. Pakistan

These should be viewed as industry strengths rather than a universal quality ranking.

Why Production and Exports Give Different Rankings

The country producing the most raw hides does not necessarily export the most finished leather products.

A hide can:

1. Be produced as a livestock by-product.
2. Be processed domestically.
3. Be exported as leather.
4. Be imported by another country.
5. Be converted into a jacket, bag, shoe, or glove.
6. Be exported again as a finished product.

This creates multiple international trade flows from the same underlying raw material.

For buyers, this means country selection should be based on the specific product, quality requirement, production capability, MOQ, and target market, rather than a generic “best leather country” ranking.

For a practical sourcing process, see our guide on how to source leather products.

Which Countries Are Strong for Different Leather Products?

Leather apparel: Italy, India, Pakistan, Germany, China, and Turkey all appear among significant 2024 exporters under HS 420310.

Premium and luxury leather: Italy has a particularly strong position in high-value leather processing and luxury manufacturing.

Large-scale leather goods: China has extensive manufacturing capacity across multiple leather-product categories.

Leather gloves and apparel: Pakistan has established export-oriented manufacturing capabilities.

Raw hides: India, China, and Brazil were among the largest producers of bovine hides in the comparable 2015 dataset.

The right sourcing country ultimately depends on what you are buying. Businesses comparing suppliers should assess production specialization, leather specifications, quality control, MOQ, lead time, and export experience.

Conclusion

The top leather-producing and exporting countries cannot be accurately represented by one universal ranking. Raw-hide production, tanning, finished leather, and finished leather products measure different stages of the supply chain.

The available comparable data shows India, China, and Brazil as major sources of bovine hides, while 2024 trade data places Italy, India, France, Pakistan, Germany, China, and Turkey among the leading exporters of leather apparel under HS 420310. For international buyers, the better question is not simply which country produces the most leather. It is which country is best suited to the particular leather product, quality level, and manufacturing requirement being sourced.

FAQs

Which country produces the most leather?

There is no single current ranking for finished-leather production that uses one comparable methodology across all countries. Raw bovine hide production is a different metric and should not be described simply as finished-leather production.

Which country is the largest leather exporter?

It depends on the product classification. Under HS 420310, Articles of apparel of leather, Italy was the largest individual-country exporter in 2024 at approximately $569.8 million.

What are the top leather exporting countries?

For leather apparel under HS 420310 in 2024, the leading individual exporters were Italy, India, France, Pakistan, Germany, China, and Turkey. 

Is China the largest leather producer?

China is a major source and processor of leather and has extensive manufacturing capacity. However, calling it the largest producer requires specifying the production metric and reference year.

Is Pakistan a major leather-producing country?

Pakistan has a significant leather industry and is particularly relevant in manufactured products such as leather apparel and gloves. Its 2024 leather-apparel exports under HS 420310 were approximately $223.5 million. 

Which country is best for buying leather products?

There is no universal answer. Italy may be appropriate for premium leather and luxury manufacturing, China for large-scale production, India and Pakistan for several apparel and leather-product categories, and other countries may be preferable for specific products or price points.