3 September 2026
In China they say that leather is not regenerating but is transforming.
Analysis by La Conceria – September 1, 2026
The aggregate data of the main Chinese companies by turnover, internationalization and investment capacity do not paint an encouraging picture for 2026. On the contrary. In the first half of the year, the leather and its derivatives sector lost 5% of its turnover (330,000 million yuan, equivalent to 42,200 million euros) in year-on-year terms.
In the same period, exports (equivalent to more than €35 billion) fell by 5.4% and imports (€6.8 billion) grew by 4.9%. According to the economic note published on the eve of ACLE, the industry trade fair held in Shanghai from September 1 to 3, the supply chain is not worried. It sees the economic situation as a sign of structural transformation. After years of focusing on volumes and exports, attention is now shifting to the domestic market and added value.
The year 2026 of the Chinese leather sector – key data
In the retail sector, the results for the first half varied by sector. Tanning (with a turnover of €2.7 billion) recorded the largest percentage decline of 12.8%, with the trade in raw leathers being the only one to present positive indicators. Leather footwear production fell by 7.6% (970 million pairs), while exports (€2.8 billion) declined by 8.7%, in line with the 8.6% decline in the footwear sector in general. The leather goods and travel goods sector also recorded a decline (-5.3%), while the only sector to present a positive result was leather garments (+25%), with a turnover of close to €400 million.
The reasons for trust
As we have already said, the slowdown is not a cause for concern, or at least not to some extent. The sector, in the context of geopolitical conflicts and the weakness of the global economy, factors that are certainly not conducive to business, is in the midst of structural transformation. The focus is now on the domestic market and young consumers, with the prospect of developing in a high-quality environment. China’s GDP growth in the first half of the year was 4.7% year-on-year: this is enough to reassure everyone.
