India’s leather and non-leather footwear exports increased by nearly 25% in the 2024–25 financial year, reaching $5.7 billion, according to a report from the Council for Leather Exports (CLE).

The council said the industry is on track to exceed $6.5 billion in exports in 2025–26, with demand remaining strong across developed and developing markets. CLE executive director R Selvam confirmed that India exceeded its FY25 export target by $1 billion, a figure set by the Department of Commerce.

CLE chairman Rajendra Kumar Jalan noted strong performance in key markets such as the US and UK. He said exporters have continued offering discounts despite a 10% tariff increase and reported no cancellations of orders. Mr Jalan also said that conditions had stabilised by mid-April and reiterated CLE’s recommendation for a ‘zero-for-zero’ duty structure in bilateral trade discussions with the US.

The sector employs around 4.2 million people and contributes $5 billion to India’s annual footwear exports. With a total current turnover of $19 billion, projections suggest the industry could reach $39 billion by 2030, including $13.7 billion in exports. The report also noted interest from Chinese investors in setting up joint production units in India.