Raw bovine and equine hides and skins market in Southern Asia, 2026

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2023, the Southern Asian market for raw bovine and equine hides and skins showed considerable movement. The market size grew slightly to 1 352 thousand tons in 2019 before a notable contraction to 1 252 thousand tons in 2020. A sustained recovery followed, with volumes reaching 1 343 thousand tons in 2021, 1 380 thousand tons in 2022, and 1 393 thousand tons by 2023.

In 2024, regulatory changes emerged as India introduced new export duty rates on raw hides and skins, effective from July. The duties were set at 40% for most raw hides and 30% for buffalo hides, with separate budget proposals to eliminate duties on certain tanned leather products, directly altering the export landscape for the region's hide and skin trade.

Production raw bovine and equine hides and skins in Southern Asia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of raw bovine and equine hides and skins, 2017-2020

World map of production of raw bovine and equine hides and skins, 2017-2020

Southern Asia's production of raw bovine and equine hides and skins declined after two years of growth. In 2020, the region produced 1,253 thousand tons, marking a moderate decrease of 6.7% from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 5.7%, which translates to an average annual decline of 1.9%. The highest production level was recorded in 2019 at 1,344 thousand tons, with that year also seeing the largest increase of 0.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports raw bovine and equine hides and skins from Southern Asia

Exports in kind, t

The export market for raw bovine and equine hides and skins from Southern Asia experienced significant fluctuations during this period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2020, with a dramatic 203-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Southern Asia exported 5,095 tons, representing an extraordinary increase of 16,861.7% compared to 2019. The most substantial decline occurred in 2019, when exports dropped by 90.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Turkey was the dominant buyer of raw bovine and equine hides and skins from Southern Asia, accounting for 81.6% of total exports by volume. Other countries collectively purchased the remaining share.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

The export market in value terms showed considerable volatility during these years. The lowest export value was recorded in 2019, while the highest occurred in 2020, with a 77-fold gap between them. In 2020, Southern Asia's cross-border shipments of raw bovine and equine hides and skins were valued at 2,911 thousand US dollars, reflecting a dramatic surge of 7,578.4% compared to 2019. The minimum value was 38 thousand US dollars in 2019, which also saw the largest decline of 93.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, the primary buyers of raw bovine and equine hides and skins from Southern Asia in value terms were Turkey (40.0% of exports), Vietnam (10.1%), and China (4.6%). Together, these three countries accounted for 54.8% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020

Imports raw bovine and equine hides and skins to Southern Asia

Imports in kind, t

Import volumes for raw bovine and equine hides and skins in Southern Asia were highly volatile during this period. The lowest import level was recorded in 2018 at 1,749 tons, while the highest was in 2019 at 8,396 tons, representing a 4.8-fold variation. In 2020, imports totaled 4,095 tons, down by 51.2% from the previous year. The largest increase occurred in 2019, with imports jumping by 380.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, t

During 2017–2020, the largest shares of imports by volume came from Iraq (45.0%), Germany (5.9%), and Italy (5.2%). Combined, these three countries accounted for 56.1% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, the value of raw bovine and equine hides and skins imported into Southern Asia was 2,917 thousand US dollars, showing a steep decrease of 56.5% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports fell by 54.6%, equivalent to an average annual decline of 23.2%. The highest import value was recorded in 2019 at 6,707 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 48.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, imports in value terms were distributed across a diverse range of partner countries. The top contributors were Iraq (16.0% of import value), Asia not elsewhere specified (10.2%), and the United States (5.4%), which together accounted for 31.7% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020