In the first two months of 2025, China’s tanners sourced 233,000 tonnes of raw hides and skins from other countries. They invested around $200 million.

The China Leather Industry Association (CLIA) has calculated that these figures represent an increase of 2.6% in volume, but a fall of 6.6% in value.

In the same two months, January and February 2025, China’s tanning sector brought 113,000 tonnes of semi-finished hides and skins into the country, paying $160 million.

According to CLIA, this shows an increase of almost 38% year on year in the volume of imports of semi-finished leather for these months, and a rise of 6.6% in value.

Chinese companies also imported 6,000 tonnes of finished leather in the first two months, with a value of $90 million, up by 3.8% in volume, but down by 7.6% in value.