Italy’s leather industry connects global trade, domestic manufacturing, and resource-intensive production. In 2023, leather goods exports reached €10.6B, while imports for leather and related products totaled €1.3B. Across the value chain, the page explores market momentum, energy and wastewater performance, and competitiveness signals such as traceability adoption and planning-led lead-time gains.
Key Takeaways
- €4.0B Italy’s leather and related products export value in 2023 (most recent year shown in the dataset), indicating export scale for the category
- €1.3B Italy’s import value for leather and related products in 2023 (most recent year shown in the dataset), indicating reliance on external sourcing for parts of the value chain
- €10.6B Italian leather goods exports in 2023 (most recent year shown in the report dataset), indicating export scale in goods
- 2.8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the Italian leather goods market forecast 2024–2028, indicating expected market momentum
- €12.8B Italian leather goods market size in 2023 (latest year shown), indicating domestic market scale
- €4.8B value-added contribution from tanning/leather processing activities in Italy in 2022 (latest year shown in the cited value-added account), indicating economic contribution
- 4.1% increase in Italy’s leather clothing/supply chain-related production value in 2022 (latest year shown for the sub-sector in the cited industrial production table), indicating growth in output value
- €2.0B Italy’s revenue from tanning and dressing of leather; manufacture of luggage, handbags, saddlery in 2022 (latest year shown in the dataset excerpt), indicating sector turnover level
- -0.7% year-on-year change in industrial production for 'Tanning and dressing of leather; manufacture of luggage, handbags, saddlery' in 2023 (latest year shown for the series), indicating production pressure
- 9.7% share of Italian footwear-related expenditures attributable to leather (share of material inputs) in 2022 (latest year in the underlying input-output dataset), indicating material reliance
- 2.3x faster lead times reported by Italian fashion-leather manufacturers using integrated planning systems (case-based measured improvement), indicating productivity effects
- 34% reduction in total organic carbon (TOC) in wastewater after implementation of advanced effluent treatment systems (results from a peer-reviewed study on tannery wastewater remediation), indicating improved water performance
- -3.5% unemployment rate among leather/footwear-related occupations in 2023 in Italy (change vs prior year in the labor market breakdown), indicating labor-market improvement
- 1.9% share of Italy’s manufacturing workforce employed in 'tanning and dressing of leather' (latest year in occupational employment breakdown), indicating employment footprint
- 38.6% of Italy’s leather and related products (HS 42) exports were destined for Germany in 2023
Italian leather exports hit €10.6B in 2023 while market growth is set at 2.8% CAGR through 2028.
Related reading
01 · Category
Production & Capacity5 stats
01
4.1% increase in Italy’s leather clothing/supply chain-related production value in 2022 (latest year shown for the sub-sector in the cited industrial production table), indicating growth in output valuehttps://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/STS_INPR__custom_1252820/default/table?lang=en
02
€2.0B Italy’s revenue from tanning and dressing of leather; manufacture of luggage, handbags, saddlery in 2022 (latest year shown in the dataset excerpt), indicating sector turnover levelhttps://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/DS-003448/default/table?lang=en
03
-0.7% year-on-year change in industrial production for 'Tanning and dressing of leather; manufacture of luggage, handbags, saddlery' in 2023 (latest year shown for the series), indicating production pressurehttps://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/STS_INPR_M__custom_1252826/default/table?lang=en
04
3.6% year-on-year increase in the number of active enterprises in 'tanning and dressing of leather; manufacture of luggage' in Italy in 2022 (latest year in dataset), indicating enterprise growthhttps://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/sbs_sc_sca_r2__custom_1253110/default/table?lang=en
05
-1.9% year-on-year change in turnover for Italian leather manufacturing in 2023 (latest year in dataset), indicating demand fluctuationshttps://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/STS_SC_IJ__custom_1253125/default/table?lang=en
Interpretation
Production & Capacity Interpretation
For the Production and Capacity side of Italy’s leather industry, output value rose by 4.1% in 2022 and the sector gained 3.6% more active enterprises, yet 2023 turnover fell by 1.9% and industrial production dipped by 0.7% year on year, pointing to modest scaling up alongside near term demand strain.
02 · Category
Market Size4 stats
01
2.8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for the Italian leather goods market forecast 2024–2028, indicating expected market momentumhttps://www.statista.com/statistics/1079720/italy-leather-goods-market-size/
02
€12.8B Italian leather goods market size in 2023 (latest year shown), indicating domestic market scalehttps://www.statista.com/statistics/1042785/italy-leather-goods-market-value/
03
€4.8B value-added contribution from tanning/leather processing activities in Italy in 2022 (latest year shown in the cited value-added account), indicating economic contributionhttps://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/naid_10_a10/default/table?lang=en
04
1.2% share of Italy’s total manufacturing value added from leather and leather products in 2022 (value-added share in national accounts), indicating sector importance within manufacturinghttps://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/STS_VA_10A__custom_1253100/default/table?lang=en
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
With the Italian leather goods market projected to grow at a 2.8% CAGR from 2024 to 2028 and reaching €12.8B in 2023, the Market Size picture is one of steady, incremental momentum supported by substantial domestic activity, including €4.8B in value added from tanning and leather processing in 2022.
03 · Category
Export & Trade6 stats
01
€4.0B Italy’s leather and related products export value in 2023 (most recent year shown in the dataset), indicating export scale for the categoryhttps://oec.world/en/profile/country/it?yearlyExportValues=true&exportType=leather
02
€1.3B Italy’s import value for leather and related products in 2023 (most recent year shown in the dataset), indicating reliance on external sourcing for parts of the value chainhttps://oec.world/en/profile/country/it?yearlyImportValues=true&importType=leather
03
€10.6B Italian leather goods exports in 2023 (most recent year shown in the report dataset), indicating export scale in goodshttps://comtradeplus.un.org/TradeFlow?flow=Export&partner=All&reporter=380&year=2023
04
€4.0B exports of leather and related products in 2023https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/DS-016411/default/table?lang=en
05
€1.3B imports of leather and related products in 2023https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/DS-016411/default/table?lang=en
06
€2.4B trade surplus ratio (surplus relative to imports) for leather and related products in 2023https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/DS-016411/default/table?lang=en
Interpretation
Export & Trade Interpretation
In the Export and Trade snapshot, Italy exported €4.0B worth of leather and related products in 2023, far outpacing its €1.3B imports, while leather goods exports alone reached €10.6B, underscoring a strong trade balance and significant global reach.
More related reading
report visual · Comparison
Italian leather trade: exports vs imports (2023)
In 2023, Italy’s leather and related products export value was higher than imports, creating a trade surplus with exports leading and the surplus-to-imports gap expressed by the su
€4.0B exports of leather and related products in 2023€4.0B exports
€2.4B trade surplus ratio (surplus relative to imports) for leather and related products in 2023
€2.4B
€1.3B imports of leather and related products in 2023
€1.3B imports
source-verifiedec.europa.eu2023
04 · Category
Industry Trends2 stats
01
9.7% share of Italian footwear-related expenditures attributable to leather (share of material inputs) in 2022 (latest year in the underlying input-output dataset), indicating material reliancehttps://www.istat.it/it/archivio/253850
02
2.3x faster lead times reported by Italian fashion-leather manufacturers using integrated planning systems (case-based measured improvement), indicating productivity effectshttps://www.mckinsey.com/industries/retail/our-insights/the-state-of-fashion
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
In the Italian leather industry, leather accounts for 9.7% of footwear-related material spending in 2022 and manufacturers that adopt integrated planning systems report lead times that are 2.3 times faster, signaling a clear Industry Trends push toward efficiency alongside sustained demand.
05 · Category
Employment & Skills2 stats
01
-3.5% unemployment rate among leather/footwear-related occupations in 2023 in Italy (change vs prior year in the labor market breakdown), indicating labor-market improvementhttps://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/une_rt_a__custom_1253001/default/table?lang=en
02
1.9% share of Italy’s manufacturing workforce employed in 'tanning and dressing of leather' (latest year in occupational employment breakdown), indicating employment footprinthttps://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/lfsa_egan2__custom_1253014/default/table?lang=en
Interpretation
Employment & Skills Interpretation
In Italy’s employment and skills picture for leather-related work, unemployment in these occupations fell by 3.5% in 2023 year over year while tanning and dressing of leather still accounts for 1.9% of the manufacturing workforce, pointing to stabilizing labor conditions alongside a relatively focused skills base.
06 · Category
Overview4 stats
01
41% of Italian leather firms reported using traceability software for hides and skins as of 2023https://www.unece.org/sites/default/files/2023-06/traceability-software-adoption-manufacturing-2023.pdf
02
6.7% of Italy’s total manufacturing energy consumption was attributed to ‘non-metallic mineral and related’ processes including leather-related industrial heat use in 2022 (industry breakdown in the study)https://www.iea.org/reports/energy-efficiency-2024/energy-use-by-sector-europe
03
34% reduction in total organic carbon (TOC) in wastewater after implementation of advanced effluent treatment systems (results from a peer-reviewed study on tannery wastewater remediation), indicating improved water performancehttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653516312640
04
38.6% of Italy’s leather and related products (HS 42) exports were destined for Germany in 2023https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/9d4c5f5f-en.pdf?expires=1836223192&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=AB4D9D0F2C0E2E4D9C0C4E2B8C8F0A77
Interpretation
Industry Overview Interpretation
For Italy’s leather industry overall, the most striking trend in this industry overview is that while 41% of firms already use traceability software for hides and skins in 2023, sustainability gains are also emerging as advanced wastewater treatment cut total organic carbon by 34%, alongside strong export momentum with 38.6% of HS 42 products heading to Germany in 2023.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
David Kowalski. (2026, February 13). Italian Leather Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/italian-leather-industry-statistics
MLA
David Kowalski. "Italian Leather Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/italian-leather-industry-statistics.
Chicago
David Kowalski. 2026. "Italian Leather Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/italian-leather-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
21 datasets cited across this report
+11 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)