Raw bovine and equine hides and skins market Ukraine

Earlier Report Observations

The market for raw bovine and equine hides in Ukraine opened the period at 60 349 tons in 2018 but entered a steady decline, falling to 53 382 tons by 2020. This early phase was marked by regulatory efforts to streamline raw material imports, including an interstate agreement with Moldova on a standardized veterinary certificate for hides. Concurrently, the publication of official cattle population statistics provided data for industry planning, though it did not reverse the downward trend in overall market volume.

A sharper contraction followed, with the market dropping to 40 533 tons in 2022. The full-scale invasion that year profoundly disrupted agriculture, a impact later quantified in 2023 by reports of a 15.6% reduction in the national cattle herd over the war period. This severe loss of livestock directly constrained the domestic supply of raw hides, leading to a significant fall in production and a shrunken market.

By 2023, the market volume stabilized near 40 800 tons at this reduced level. Ongoing herd depletion continued to pressure raw material availability, prompting further measures such as a new veterinary certificate agreement with Hungary in 2024 to facilitate imports. The industry also adapted to shifting consumer preferences, with a noted development in the leather goods segment alongside traditional footwear production, while domestic manufacturing of cattle identification tools aimed to improve supply chain control.

Production raw bovine and equine hides and skins Ukraine

In kind, 2017-2020, 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

In 2020, Ukraine produced 48 005 tonnes of raw bovine and equine hides and skins, marking a 6.5% decrease from the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, overall production fell by 5%, with an average annual decline of 1.7%. The peak was reached in 2019 at 51 354 tonnes, which also saw the largest annual increase of 3.0%.

Annual dynamics of production Ukraine in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports raw bovine and equine hides and skins to Ukraine

Exports in kind, t

Ukraine's exports of raw bovine and equine hides and skins declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country exported 210 tonnes, down 9.3% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports dropped by 60.6%, translating to an average annual decrease of 26.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports to Ukraine in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Belgium and Italy were the main buyers of raw bovine and equine hides and skins from Ukraine, together accounting for 96.6% of total exports by volume, with the rest going to other countries.

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

World map of product's exports to Ukraine in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Ukraine's export value of raw bovine and equine hides and skins fell for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports totaled 89 thousand US dollars, a sharp 57.7% drop year-on-year. Between 2017 and 2020, export value decreased by 88.2%, with an average annual decline of 50.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports to Ukraine in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

During 2017-2020, Italy and Belgium dominated Ukraine's export market for raw bovine and equine hides and skins in value terms, jointly making up 96.4% of total exports, while the remaining share was spread across various other countries.

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

World map of product's exports to Ukraine in value, 2017-2020

Imports raw bovine and equine hides and skins in Ukraine

Imports in kind, t

Ukraine's imports of raw bovine and equine hides and skins decreased for the second year in a row. In 2020, imports amounted to 5 587 tonnes, a significant 25.4% fall from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports declined by 24.7%, equivalent to an average annual rate of 9.0%. The highest volume was recorded in 2018 at 10 807 tonnes, which also saw the largest annual increase of 45.7%. In contrast, 2019 experienced the steepest decline of 30.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports in Ukraine in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Slovakia and Romania were the primary suppliers of raw bovine and equine hides and skins to Ukraine, together holding 84.6% of total imports by volume, with the rest fragmented among other countries.

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

World map of product's imports in Ukraine in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

The import value data shows irregular fluctuations, pointing to a volatile market. In 2020, Ukraine imported 3 244 thousand US dollars worth of raw bovine and equine hides and skins, down 42.2% from 2019. The peak was in 2018 at 8 268 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest annual increase of 70.5%. Overall, there was a 2.5-fold difference between the maximum in 2018 and the minimum in 2020.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Slovakia (35.2% of import value), Romania (30.4%), and Italy (12.3%) were the top suppliers of raw bovine and equine hides and skins to Ukraine in value terms, together accounting for 77.9% of total imports.

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

World map of product's imports in Ukraine in value, 2017-2020