Raw sheep and lamb skins market in GCC

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, GCC production of raw sheep and lamb skins grew from 37 298 t to 51 269 t. This expansion was supported by the adoption of modern agricultural techniques, such as vertical farming, which helped mitigate challenges from climate change and water scarcity, thereby enhancing livestock sector productivity.

Production eased slightly in 2021 before a more pronounced contraction to 41 927 t in 2022. A strong rebound followed in 2023, with output reaching 57 143 t. The recovery was underpinned by resilient economic growth in the GCC region, which persisted despite a global slowdown and tighter monetary policies, sustaining demand within non-oil sectors including agriculture.

In 2024, GCC countries continued to advance their agricultural and livestock sectors through economic diversification. Efforts included reinforcing the GCC common market to enhance the free movement of goods and implementing unified legislative measures to combat commercial fraud and strengthen consumer protection, shaping the market's regulatory environment.

Production raw sheep and lamb skins in GCC

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of raw sheep and lamb skins, 2017-2020

World map of production of raw sheep and lamb skins, 2017-2020

Raw sheep and lamb skins production in the GCC has increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, GCC countries produced 51 269 tonnes of raw sheep and lamb skins, marking a 15.1% increase compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 42.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of 12.4%.

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

Exports raw sheep and lamb skins from GCC

Exports in kind, t

The market showed signs of volatility during the observed period. Export volumes reached their lowest point in 2018 at 2 348 tonnes and peaked in 2020 at 6 232 tonnes, representing a 2.7-fold increase. In 2020, GCC exported 6 232 tonnes of raw sheep and lamb skins, indicating a gain of 15.4% relative to the prior year. The largest decline occurred in 2018, with a drop of 28.2%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2019, at 129.9%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Pakistan, India, and Turkey remained the leading destinations for exports in kind, accounting for 28.7%, 18.4%, and 14.5% of total exports, respectively. Together, these three countries held a combined share of 61.6% of total export flows.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Volatility characterized the market behavior during these years. Export values dropped to their lowest point in 2018 at 2 684 thousand US dollars and peaked in 2020 at 10 937 thousand US dollars, showing a 4.1-fold increase. In 2020, GCC exported 10 937 thousand US dollars worth of raw sheep and lamb skins, representing a rise of 17.1% from the year earlier. The largest decline was recorded in 2018, at 18.3%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019, at 248.0%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, three principal markets—India, Pakistan, and Turkey—together accounted for 58.5% of total exports in value terms of raw sheep and lamb skins from the GCC.

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

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

Imports raw sheep and lamb skins to GCC

Imports in kind, t

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. Import volumes fell to their lowest point in 2018 at 214 tonnes and peaked in 2020 at 707 tonnes, representing a 3.3-fold increase. In 2020, GCC imported a total of 707 tonnes of raw sheep and lamb skins, constituting a robust advance of 22.7% year-over-year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018, at 59.6%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019, at 169.2%.

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

The structure of imports in kind from 2017 to 2020 can be described as diversified, with Yemen, Somalia, and Sudan accounting for 10.7%, 3.4%, and 3.4% of imports, respectively. Together, these three countries represented just 17.6% of total flows, and no single country held a clearly dominant position.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. Import values dropped to their minimum in 2018 at 326 thousand US dollars and reached their maximum in 2019 at 1 548 thousand US dollars, showing a 4.8-fold increase. In 2020, GCC's raw sheep and lamb skins import volume came to 796 thousand US dollars, constituting a steep drop of 48.6% year-over-year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018, at 63.5%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019, at 375.6%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Yemen, Somalia, and Sudan headed the ranking of suppliers of raw sheep and lamb skins to the GCC in value terms, accounting for 46.6%, 9.3%, and 4.1% of imports, respectively. Their combined share reached 60.0% of total imports in value terms.

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

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