1 September 2026
ACLE Links the International and Chinese Leather Industries in Shanghai
The global leather industry returns to Shanghai today for the opening of the 26th All China Leather Exhibition (ACLE). The event runs from 1 to 3 September 2026 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC).
ACLE has spent more than a quarter of a century building its position in China’s leather market. Today, it remains an important sourcing and business platform, connecting international suppliers with the country’s large manufacturing base.
This year’s exhibition, jointly organised by APLF Ltd and the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA), fills eight halls. More than 1,000 exhibitors from over 31 countries and regions are taking part.
Their products cover the complete leather supply chain. Raw hides, semi-finished and finished leather sit alongside tanning chemicals, machinery, sustainable materials and manufacturing solutions. These products serve the tanning sector and major downstream industries including footwear, leather goods, furniture and automotive.
Visitor growth also shows the continuing importance of the event. ACLE welcomed 23,500 visitors in 2019. By 2025, attendance had risen to more than 32,000.
ACLE first opened its doors in 1998. Since then, market conditions have changed many times. Its purpose, however, remains much the same: to connect international supply with demand from China’s leather manufacturing industry.
Global Market Conditions Remain Challenging
ACLE 2026 opens amid continued pressure on global trade. Consumer demand remains weak in several export markets, while tariffs and uncertainty over future trade policy are complicating sourcing, pricing and investment decisions. Geopolitical tensions are adding to the uncertainty, with ongoing conflicts affecting business confidence and contributing to concerns over energycosts and inflation.
These pressures are creating a more complex operating environment for manufacturers, exporters and international suppliers. Companies are having to manage higher costs, changing trade conditions and greater uncertainty across global supply chains.
The IMF forecasts global GDP growth of 3.0% in 2026 and 3.4% in 2027, pointing to only moderate expansion in the wider global economy.
Measured by Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), China remains the world’s largest economy at US$44.30 trillion, followed by the US at US$32.38 trillion and the Euro Area at US$24.20 trillion.
China Leather Industry: H1 2026
Against a backdrop of low global hide prices, Chinese tanneries increased raw hide purchases. At the same time, China is importing less semi-finished and finished leather as its domestic production quality and manufacturing capacity improve.
According to the statistics published by CLIA, sales revenue among key enterprises in China’s leather industry reached nearly RMB 330 billion in the first half of 2026, down 5.0% year on year. Industry exports totalled US$40.9 billion, down 5.4%, while imports rose 4.9% to US$7.9 billion.
Tanning
Tanning remained under pressure. Sales revenue among key tanning enterprises fell 12.8% to nearly RMB 21 billion, while light leather output declined 6.5% to 140 million square metres.
Raw hide imports increased 7.0% to 749,000 tonnes. By contrast, semi-finished leather imports fell 5.9% to 295,000 tonnes and finished leather imports declined 2.2% to 18,000 tonnes.
Despite weaker leather demand since the pandemic, China has recently reduced import tariffs on leather of all types by 50%. Combined with low raw-material prices, this creates more favourable conditions for overseas suppliers seeking business with Chinese tanners.
Footwear, Travel Goods and Leather Apparel
Performance downstream was mixed. Sales revenue among key footwear enterprises declined 6.1%, with leather footwear output down 7.6%. Travel goods and luggage revenue fell 5.3%, while exports declined 3.1%.
Leather garments were the strongest segment, with sales revenue up 25.5% and exports rising 41.4%.
CLIA expects the industry to remain broadly stable but increasingly differentiated through 2026, with production, sales and exports remaining subdued and profitability under continued pressure.
Automotive: NEV Exports Offset Weaker Domestic Demand
China’s vehicle market remains an important source of potential leather demand. Figures from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) show vehicle wholesales reached 15.02 million units in H1 2026, down 4.1%, while exports rose 65%.
New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) performed more strongly, with wholesales increasing 7.3% to 7.45 million units and exports rising 120% to 2.36 million.
Despite softer domestic demand, the scale of China’s automotive industry continues to create opportunities for producers of high-performance automotive leather.
Knowledge, Innovation and Business Connections
This year’s ACLE programme addresses sustainability, ESG standards, PFAS regulations, material innovation and changing market trends, alongside presentations of new products and manufacturing technologies.
Among the events taking place are:
- Overview of Leather Working Group
- 2026 International Leather Industry Sharing
- Automotive Seminar by Bader
- Building a Unified Global Standard: A New Chapter of Sustainability for the Leather Industry by Sustainable Leather Foundation
- PFAS Global Regulations and Solutions by France’s CTC
Alongside the technical programme, ACLE will present a four-part Designer Seminar Series focusing on cutting-edge materials, sustainable craftsmanship and AI-assisted design. Industry experts and designers will share practical insights and provide a dedicated space for peer exchange and creative inspiration.
Details of the complete onsite programme can be found through the Event Agenda on the ACLE website.
AI Leatherlens Makes Its Debut
ACLE 2026 will introduce the AI Leatherlens Zone, developed by APLF and Diction, demonstrating how artificial intelligence can support leather product development. The system uses AI to simulate leather textures on footwear, handbags, luxury goods and automotive interiors.
The technology is designed to accelerate material evaluation and sampling and improve quality control across the supply chain.
Elsewhere at ACLE, Moda China will again be held alongside the exhibition. The event brings footwear manufacturers and finished leather goods producers into the same environment, extending the connection between upstream suppliers and downstream manufacturing.
Looking Ahead
Despite short-term pressure, CLIA maintains that the long-term fundamentals of China’s leather industry remain positive, supported by the scale of the domestic market.
The industry is accelerating its transition towards higher-value, smarter and greener development. AI and digitalisation are increasingly being applied across research and development, production and marketing, while cleaner production and low-carbon processes continue to expand.
For ACLE, these shifts reinforce the importance of direct contact across the supply chain, as companies look for new materials, technologies, suppliers and business models that can respond to changing market requirements.
ACLE provides that contact by bringing international suppliers, Chinese manufacturers and industry specialists together in Shanghai. It allows companies to discuss current conditions, see new technology and identify where future opportunities may develop.
The next edition of ACLE will be held in Shanghai from 1–3 September 2027.
