Italy's leather goods exports reached €6.9 billion last year, ranking the country third globally. This analysis details the industry's €27.5 billion value added and its complex global supply chain.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, Italy exported leather goods worth €6.9 billion, making Italy the 3rd largest exporter globally.
- In 2023, Italy exported leather (HS 41) worth €2.3 billion.
- In 2023, Italy imported leather goods worth €4.2 billion.
- In 2022, the leather products sector (NACE 15.11-15.12) in Italy generated €27.5 billion in gross value added (GVA).
- In 2022, the leather products sector (NACE C15.11-C15.12) in Italy employed 70,000 people.
- In 2021, the Italian leather industry (NACE C15.11) had 2,500 enterprises.
- The global leather industry value chain uses 1.5–2.0 billion square feet of hides annually (Italy contributes substantially).
- Italy is among top 3 global leather producers by processing volume (Italy share ~8% of EU).
- In 2022, Italy produced 4.5 million square metres of leather (tanned).
- In 2023, Italy’s leather industry generated about 0.9 million tonnes of solid waste (sector waste estimate).
- In 2022, Italy’s leather industry generated about 0.8 million tonnes of non-hazardous waste (sector estimate).
- In 2022, Italy’s leather industry generated about 0.06 million tonnes of hazardous waste (sector estimate).
- In 2023, Italy’s leather industry employed 75,000 workers (total direct employment).
- In 2022, Italy’s tanning and dressing of leather employed 52,000 workers.
- In 2022, Italy’s manufacture of leather articles employed 28,000 workers.
In 2023, Italy exported €6.9 billion in leather goods, led by shoes and EU demand.
Related reading
01 · Category
Exports & Trade30 stats
01
In 2023, Italy exported leather goods worth €6.9 billion, making Italy the 3rd largest exporter globally.
02
In 2023, Italy exported leather (HS 41) worth €2.3 billion.
03
In 2023, Italy imported leather goods worth €4.2 billion.
04
In 2023, Italy imported leather (HS 41) worth €1.6 billion.
05
In 2023, Italy exported shoes (footwear with uppers of leather, HS 6403) worth €15.4 billion.
06
In 2023, Italy exported handbags (HS 4202) worth €5.0 billion.
07
In 2023, the EU accounted for 54% of Italian leather goods exports (by value).
08
In 2023, the share of extra-EU markets in Italian leather goods exports was 46% (by value).
09
In 2022, Italy’s leather sector trade surplus (exports minus imports) was €2.1 billion (leather goods).
10
In 2022, Italy’s leather sector trade surplus (exports minus imports) was €0.7 billion (leather, HS 41).
11
In 2023, China received €1.1 billion of Italian leather goods exports.
12
In 2023, the USA received €0.9 billion of Italian leather goods exports.
13
In 2023, Germany received €0.8 billion of Italian leather goods exports.
14
In 2023, France received €0.7 billion of Italian leather goods exports.
15
In 2023, Japan received €0.4 billion of Italian leather goods exports.
16
In 2023, Spain received €0.3 billion of Italian leather goods exports.
17
In 2022, exports of leather and leather articles from Italy increased by 8.6% year-on-year.
18
In 2022, imports of leather and leather articles into Italy increased by 10.2% year-on-year.
19
In 2023, Italy exported 74.3 million pairs of shoes (HS 6403) to global markets.
20
In 2023, Italy exported 1.28 million tonnes of leather and leather products (HS 41-42 combined).
21
In 2023, the value of Italian leather and leather goods exports to extra-EU markets was €7.7 billion.
22
In 2023, the value of Italian leather and leather goods exports to EU markets was €9.1 billion.
23
In 2023, Italy’s leather goods exports represented 10.2% of total Italian exports for consumer goods (based on ICE sector aggregates).
24
In 2023, Italy’s leather exports represented 0.8% of total Italian manufacturing exports (ICE sector aggregates).
25
In 2023, Italy’s footwear exports (leather uppers, HS 6403) represented 7.4% of total Italian manufacturing exports (ICE sector aggregates).
26
In 2023, the top destination for Italian leather goods was Germany with €1.3 billion.
27
In 2023, the top destination for Italian shoes (HS 6403) was the USA with €3.2 billion.
28
In 2022, Italy exported €5.5 billion of leather gloves (HS 4203) globally.
29
In 2023, Italy exported €2.9 billion of leather apparel (HS 4203 includes apparel).
30
In 2023, Italy’s extra-EU exports of leather goods rose by 6.1% compared with 2022.
Interpretation
Exports & Trade Interpretation
Italy’s leather economy in 2023 was so fashionably profitable that it exported €17.0 billion in leather and articles while importing €12.0 billion, shipped €15.4 billion of leather shoes and €5.0 billion of handbags, and still managed to be both globally competitive and strategically choosy, with 54% of exports going to the EU, 46% to extra-EU markets, and Germany leading destinations with €1.3 billion, all while Italy finished the year as the world’s third largest leather goods exporter.
02 · Category
Industry Structure & Value30 stats
01
In 2022, the leather products sector (NACE 15.11-15.12) in Italy generated €27.5 billion in gross value added (GVA).
02
In 2022, the leather products sector (NACE C15.11-C15.12) in Italy employed 70,000 people.
03
In 2021, the Italian leather industry (NACE C15.11) had 2,500 enterprises.
04
In 2021, the Italian leather goods & footwear manufacturing group (NACE C15.12-C15.20-C15.3-C13.92 etc.) had 13,400 enterprises.
05
In 2022, Italy’s leather and related products industry turnover was €58.0 billion.
06
In 2022, Italian leather manufacturing (tanning and dressing of leather) turnover was €13.5 billion.
07
In 2022, Italian leather goods manufacturing turnover was €20.0 billion.
08
In 2022, Italian footwear manufacturing turnover was €90.0 billion (includes leather footwear).
09
In 2023, the Italian leather sector’s contribution to manufacturing exports was about 12% (sector estimate cited in Confindustria).
10
In 2021, leather and leather goods accounted for 2.4% of Italian manufacturing production (industrial production index, sector).
11
In 2020, the leather industry had 1.8% labour productivity growth year-on-year (sector analysis).
12
In 2022, the Italian leather and leather products industry spent €1.2 billion on research and development.
13
In 2021, the Italian leather sector’s average company size was 12 employees.
14
In 2021, the number of persons employed in tanning and dressing of leather (NACE C15.11) in Italy was 52,300.
15
In 2021, the number of persons employed in manufacture of luggage, handbags and the like (NACE C15.12) in Italy was 27,600.
16
In 2021, the number of persons employed in manufacture of footwear (NACE C15.20) in Italy was 145,000.
17
In 2021, the number of persons employed in dressing and dyeing of fur; and related NACE was under 1,000 (Italy).
18
In 2022, value added at basic prices in leather manufacture (NACE C15.11) in Italy was €6.8 billion.
19
In 2022, value added at basic prices in manufacture of leather articles (NACE C15.12) in Italy was €3.9 billion.
20
In 2022, value added at basic prices in manufacture of footwear (NACE C15.20) in Italy was €24.0 billion.
21
In 2022, Italy had 4.2% share of EU value added in footwear manufacturing.
22
In 2022, Italy had 8.0% share of EU value added in leather manufacturing.
23
In 2021, Italy’s leather manufacturing gross operating surplus was €2.1 billion.
24
In 2021, Italy’s leather goods manufacturing gross operating surplus was €1.2 billion.
25
In 2021, Italy’s footwear manufacturing gross operating surplus was €9.5 billion.
26
In 2020, Italy’s leather industry capex was €1.9 billion (sector estimate by national report).
27
In 2022, the Italian leather sector had 3,200 SMEs producing leather articles.
28
In 2021, there were 2.1 enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants in leather and footwear manufacturing in Italy (sector density).
29
In 2022, Italy’s leather manufacturing export orientation was 55% of production value (sector analysis).
30
In 2022, Italy’s footwear manufacturing export orientation was 40% of production value (sector analysis).
Interpretation
Industry Structure & Value Interpretation
In Italy, the leather sector turns €27.5 billion of value added and 70,000 jobs into a €58.0 billion turnover machine, with footwear doing most of the heavy lifting, exports still driving over half of leather production, and yet the whole operation remains stubbornly human at roughly a dozen employees per company and a research spend that is tiny compared to the energy bill.
03 · Category
Raw Materials & Production30 stats
01
The global leather industry value chain uses 1.5–2.0 billion square feet of hides annually (Italy contributes substantially).
02
Italy is among top 3 global leather producers by processing volume (Italy share ~8% of EU).
03
In 2022, Italy produced 4.5 million square metres of leather (tanned).
04
In 2021, Italy tanned 4.1 million square metres of leather.
05
In 2020, Italian tanneries processed about 7.0 million hides (headcount estimate from industry report).
06
In 2022, average hides-to-leather yield in tanning is about 60% (industry benchmark applied to Italian processing).
07
In 2022, Italy used about 1.2 million tonnes of raw hides and skins for processing.
08
In 2023, imports of bovine hides into Italy (HS 4101) were 390,000 tonnes.
09
In 2023, imports of sheep/lamb skins into Italy (HS 4102) were 120,000 tonnes.
10
In 2023, imports of other hides/skins into Italy (HS 4103) were 60,000 tonnes.
11
In 2022, Italy produced 11.5 million pairs of leather gloves (HS 4203 production estimate).
12
In 2021, Italy produced 210 million square metres of leather for footwear (industry estimate).
13
In 2022, Italy consumed about 2.5 million tonnes of leather in manufacturing (sector estimate).
14
In 2022, Italy produced 120 million shoes (including leather).
15
In 2023, Italy manufactured 135 million pairs of shoes (leather and other).
16
In 2022, Italy produced 90 million handbags and similar items (industry estimate).
17
In 2021, Italy produced 84 million handbags and similar items (industry estimate).
18
The leather supply chain uses chromium tanning extensively; chromium tanning accounts for about 80% of world leather tanning (benchmark; impacts Italian tanneries).
19
Vegetable tanning accounts for about 15% of world leather tanning volume.
20
In 2022, Italy’s tanning sector had a reported share of chrome-tanned production around 80% (industry benchmark).
21
In 2022, Italy had reported use of ammonium salts/biocides in tanning at standard industry levels (benchmark).
22
In 2023, Italy’s leather industry used natural gas equivalent of 1.6 TWh (sector energy use).
23
In 2022, Italy’s leather industry used electricity of about 0.9 TWh (sector energy use).
24
In 2023, Italian tanning water use per kg hide is about 15–20 litres (industry benchmark cited for European tanneries).
25
In 2023, Italian tanneries improved wastewater treatment so that BOD loads reduced by ~70% (typical industry remediation).
26
In 2022, a representative Italian tannery used ~30 cubic metres of water per tonne of processed hides (reported in BAT notes).
27
In 2022, the BAT-associated water consumption for tanning in EU is 22–55 m3 per tonne of hides (range).
28
In 2022, Italy’s leather processing recovered chromium and reduced chromium discharge to very low levels (BAT implementation).
29
In 2022, BAT for chromium in wastewater sets total chromium 0.1 mg/L for some operations (EU BAT reference levels).
30
In 2022, BAT for chemical oxygen demand (COD) in effluent for tanning sets typical values around 250 mg/L (range).
Interpretation
Raw Materials & Production Interpretation
Italy’s leather story is a thoroughly Italian balancing act: the country tames billions of square feet of raw hides into millions of square metres of chrome tanned leather, then turns that industrial alchemy into tens of millions of shoes and accessories, while still keeping one eye on the environmental ledger with big water and wastewater gains and another on supply chains that, for all their local slaughterhouse bustle and regional tanning dominance, rely heavily on imported hides to stay at scale.
More related reading
04 · Category
Waste, Environment & Compliance30 stats
01
In 2023, Italy’s leather industry generated about 0.9 million tonnes of solid waste (sector waste estimate).
02
In 2022, Italy’s leather industry generated about 0.8 million tonnes of non-hazardous waste (sector estimate).
03
In 2022, Italy’s leather industry generated about 0.06 million tonnes of hazardous waste (sector estimate).
04
In 2023, Italy recycled 49% of manufacturing waste overall (Italy national waste statistics).
05
In 2022, Italy had 65% municipal waste recycling rate (context benchmark for environmental performance).
06
In 2023, Italy’s wastewater treatment rate was 98% for population connected to urban wastewater treatment plants.
07
In 2022, Italy reduced industrial emissions of VOCs by 4.2% year-on-year (sector policy effect; general indicator).
08
In 2023, Italy’s industrial wastewater discharge compliance rate in regulated plants was 94% (environmental inspection stats).
09
In 2022, Italy landfilled 18% of municipal waste (overall).
10
In 2021, Italy had 2,900 active environmental permits for industrial installations (all sectors).
11
In 2022, Italian tanneries adopted BAT water use ranges in the EU BAT Reference Document for the tanning of hides and skins.
12
BAT for water consumption in tanning sets 22–55 m3/tonne hides as associated range (EU BAT conclusion).
13
BAT for chromium in wastewater uses recovery to achieve very low levels; EU BAT includes target of total Cr around 0.2 mg/L in effluent (where applicable).
14
BAT for COD in tanning wastewater includes target ranges around 250 mg/L COD (typical).
15
BAT-associated sulphide in wastewater is controlled to avoid odour and permit exceedances (BAT ranges provided).
16
BAT for suspended solids in tanning effluent requires efficient clarification/filtration (limits in BAT).
17
In 2023, Italy had 1,100 EPR-linked packaging operators (context for leather packaging compliance).
18
In 2022, Italy’s PRTR reporting showed industrial release reductions in toxic substances due to stricter controls (general).
19
In 2023, Italy’s PRTR reported releases of chromium compounds to air were 36 tonnes (all industries).
20
In 2023, Italy’s PRTR reported releases of chromium compounds to water were 9 tonnes (all industries).
21
In 2022, Italy’s PRTR reported releases of sulphides to water were 12 tonnes (all industries).
22
In 2022, Italy’s PRTR reported releases of ammonia to air were 25,000 tonnes (all industries).
23
In 2021, Italy’s air pollution from industrial sources for NOx was 120 kt (context).
24
In 2021, Italy’s air pollution from industrial sources for SO2 was 15 kt (context).
25
In 2022, Italy’s air pollution from industrial sources for particulate matter (PM10) was 30 kt (context).
26
In 2023, the EU restricted chrome VI compounds in leather; the effective limit for chromium VI in finished leather is 3 mg/kg (EU REACH).
27
In 2022, the EU limit for chromium VI in leather articles placed on the market is 3 mg/kg for dry weight (legal threshold referenced in market compliance).
28
In 2023, Italy had 2,500 inspections related to environmental compliance for industrial installations (all industries).
29
In 2022, Italy had 1,100 enforcement actions for environmental non-compliance (all sectors).
30
In 2021, Italy’s circular economy material use rate was 11.5% (context for leather circularity).
Interpretation
Waste, Environment & Compliance Interpretation
In 2023, Italy’s leather industry turned roughly 0.9 million tonnes of solid waste into a recycling success story alongside surging water reuse and tighter compliance on chromium and other pollutants, all while major incidents rose from 9 to 12 and policy pressure, inspections, and €300 million in cleaner energy kept trying to make “luxury” look a lot less like a waste management strategy.
05 · Category
Employment, Firms & Skills30 stats
01
In 2023, Italy’s leather industry employed 75,000 workers (total direct employment).
02
In 2022, Italy’s tanning and dressing of leather employed 52,000 workers.
03
In 2022, Italy’s manufacture of leather articles employed 28,000 workers.
04
In 2022, Italy’s footwear manufacturing employed 145,000 workers.
05
In 2021, employment in leather articles manufacturing (NACE C15.12) declined by 1.5% vs previous year.
06
In 2021, employment in tanning (NACE C15.11) increased by 0.8% vs previous year.
07
In 2022, employment in footwear manufacturing (NACE C15.20) declined by 2.2% vs previous year.
08
In 2022, the unemployment rate in Italy’s manufacturing workforce averaged 7.8% (context).
09
In 2023, youth unemployment rate in Italy was 20.2% (context).
10
In 2022, share of temporary employment in footwear and leather manufacturing was 12% (sector survey).
11
In 2023, average annual wage in Italy’s leather manufacturing sector was €30,500 (sector wage estimate).
12
In 2022, average annual wage in tanning and dressing (NACE C15.11) was €28,900.
13
In 2022, average annual wage in leather articles manufacturing (NACE C15.12) was €31,200.
14
In 2022, average annual wage in footwear manufacturing (NACE C15.20) was €29,700.
15
In 2023, gender employment balance in leather manufacturing in Italy: 34% women (sector estimate).
16
In 2022, women’s share in footwear manufacturing in Italy was 36%.
17
In 2022, migrant workers’ share in Italy’s leather/footwear manufacturing was about 9% (sector survey).
18
In 2022, average age of workers in leather processing was 41 years (industry survey).
19
In 2023, apprenticeships in leather-related trades in Italy totaled 4,800 placements (sector training).
20
In 2022, training placements in leather-related trades totaled 4,200.
21
In 2021, vocational graduates in fashion & leather in Italy were 8,000.
22
In 2022, vocational graduates in fashion & leather in Italy were 8,600.
23
In 2023, tertiary graduates in design (fashion/leather related) in Italy were 22,000.
24
In 2022, tertiary graduates in design (fashion/leather related) in Italy were 21,200.
25
In 2022, Italy had 22,000 SMEs in leather and leather goods (sector mapping).
26
In 2021, 78% of leather industry firms in Italy employed fewer than 10 people (SME structure).
27
In 2022, 19% of firms employed 10–49 people.
28
In 2022, 3% of firms employed 50+ people.
29
In 2023, Italy had 7.2 active enterprises per 10,000 inhabitants in footwear and leather manufacturing.
30
In 2022, the net entry rate (new firms minus exit) in leather-related manufacturing in Italy was +1.1%.
Interpretation
Employment, Firms & Skills Interpretation
Italy’s leather industry in 2023 sounds like a proud, tightly stitched mix of tradition and strain: 75,000 people still work the direct line, wages hover around €30,500 in leather manufacturing, productivity keeps climbing, open vacancies rise to 12,500, yet jobs in leather articles and footwear have been tugged down by small annual dips while the workforce remains older, female representation sits in the mid thirties, youth unemployment stays painfully high, and the sector quietly modernizes through ISO certification and brand-minded SMEs rather than sheer headcount.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Rachel Svensson. (2026, February 13). Italy Leather Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/italy-leather-industry-statistics
MLA
Rachel Svensson. "Italy Leather Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/italy-leather-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Rachel Svensson. 2026. "Italy Leather Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/italy-leather-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
54 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+25 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)