Snapshot

India is the 2nd largest producer and consumer of footwear in the world

World’s Tannery

The Leather industry in India accounts for around 13% of the world’s leather production of hides/skins and handles a robust annual production of about 3 Bn sq. ft. of leather. 

The industry is known for its consistency in high export earnings and it is among the top ten foreign exchange earners for the country.
India has an abundance of raw materials with access to 21% of world’s cattle and buffalo and 11% of the world’s goat and sheep population.

The Leather industry is an employment intensive industry providing job to more than 4 Mn people, mostly from the weaker sections of the society. Women employment is predominant in Leather products industry with about 40% share. 

The major markets for Indian Leather & Footwear Products are USA, Germany, U.K, Italy, France, Spain, Netherlands, U.A.E, China, Hong Kong, Belgium, and Poland. 

India as Footwear hub

The country accounts for 9% of the world’s footwear production and is the second largest footwear producer and consumer in the world.

For every 1,000 pairs produced and sold in India per day, the sector has the potential to create 425 jobs spanning manufacturing, allied industries, and retail. 

In terms of volume, India is expected to product almost 3 Bn units by 2024 and is expected to grow at 8% CAGR. The per capita footwear consumption in India is estimated to have grown from 1.7 pairs in 2016 to 2.3 pairs in 2021.

The Non-leather footwear market is an upcoming segment in India and has contributed approximately 90% of the total footwear market in 2021 with a market size of $ 4.3 Bn which is expected to increase to $ 6 Bn in 2024.
 

 

  • %

    Export Share of Finished Leather (2023-24)

  • %

    Export share of Leather Footwear (2023-24)

  • %

    Export share of Non-Leather Footwear (2023-24)

Second largest exporter of leather garments

Third largest exporter of saddlery & harness

Fourth largest exporter of leather goods in the world

Industry Scenario

More than 95% of the production units in the sector are Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) units. 

The major production centres of leather and footwear products in India are located in the States of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. 

India is the 4th largest exporter of leather goods in the world. India’s exports of leather, footwear and leather products touched $4.68 Bn during 2023-24. Footwear (leather and non-leather) export accounts for about 47% share in Indian leather and footwear industry’s export (2023-24).
 

 

GROWTH DRIVERS

  • Aspirational large millennial population

    Around 66% of total population is below the age of 35 years with higher focus on branded consumption driving the consumption of premium footwear.

  • Retail Market in India

    The overall retail market, that grew to $0.7 Tn in 2021, is expected to touch $2 Tn mark by 2032 facilitating 25% CAGR of organised retail sector.

  • Availability of manpower

    68% of the population constituted by people in the age group 15-64 years, i.e., workforce potential

arrowarrow

Industrial Land Bank Portal

GIS - based map displaying available infrastructure for setting up business operations in the state.

Investible Projects

Investment Opportunities in Leather and Footwear

    Major Investors

    Latest In Leather and Footwear

    Memorandum of Understanding Sep 13, 2024

    Footwear Design and Development Institute inks four MoUs with renowned Research and Academic Institutes

    Read Now

    Memorandum of Understanding

    Footwear Design and Development Institute…

    Brochure

    Leather and Footwear in India: Stitching New…

    Press release

    India has the potential to become a world…

    Report

    Investment Promotion Reforms in India

    Guidelines

    Revised export norms for finished leather

    FAQs

    Frequently
    Asked Questions

    What is the Leather sector overview of India?

    India is the second largest producer and consumer of footwear in the world.

    The Leather industry in India accounts for around 13% of the world’s leather production of hides/skins and handles a robust annual production of about 3 bn sq. ft. of leather. The country accounts for 9% of the world’s footwear production. The industry is an employment intensive industry providing job to more than 4 Mn people. The industry is home to many leather and footwear clusters across the length and breadth of India.

     

    Was it helpful?

    What are the major initiatives undertaken by the government in recent times in the leather sector?

    The Indian Footwear and Leather Development Programme (IFLDP) (erstwhile IFLADP) has been approved for continuation from 2021-22 with an approved financial outlay of INR 1700 crore. IFLDP has been approved by the Union Cabinet on 19.01.2022 as continuation of the erstwhile IFLADP till 31.03.2026 or till further review, whichever is earlier. Indian Footwear and Leather Development Programme(IFLDP) aims at development of infrastructure for the leather sector, address environmental concerns specific to the leather sector, facilitate additional investments, employment generation and increase in production. For more details please visit - https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1795797

    Was it helpful?

    Where are major production centers for leather and leather products in India?

    The major production centers for leather and leather products in India are located in the states of :
    1) Tamil Nadu – Chennai, Ambur, Ranipet, Vaniyambadi, Vellore, Pernambut, Trichy, Dindigul and Erode. 
    2) West Bengal – Kolkata.
    3) Uttar Pradesh – Kanpur, Agra, Noida, Saharanpur; Maharashtra – Mumbai.  
    4) Punjab – Jallandhar. 
    5) Karnataka – Bangalore. 
    6) Andhra Pradesh – Hyderabad. 
    7) Haryana  – Ambala, Gurgaon, Panchkula, Karnal and Faridabad. 
    8) Delhi. 
    9) Madhya Pradesh – Dewas. 
    10) Kerala – Calicut and Ernakulam / Cochin. 
    11) Rajasthan - Jaipur. 
    12) Jammu & Kashmir - Srinagar.

    Was it helpful?

    Is prior government approval required for investing in this sector?

    No, 100% FDI is allowed under the Automatic route.

    Was it helpful?

    What are the sub-schemes approved under Indian Footwear and Leather Development Programme (IFLDP)?

    Indian Footwear and Leather Development Programme(IFLDP) aims at development of infrastructure for the leather sector, address environmental concerns specific to the leather sector, facilitate additional investments, employment generation and increase in production.

    The following sub-schemes have been approved under IFLDP during 2021-26:-

    (i) Sustainable Technology and Environmental Promotion (proposed outlay INR 500 crore):- Special Purpose Vehicle constituted for each CETP would be provided assistance @ 80% of the total project cost for Northeastern Areas with industry’s/beneficiary share to be 20% of the project cost and @ 70% of the total project cost for other areas with industry’s/beneficiary share to be 30% of the project cost with a limit of INR 200 crore.

    (ii) Integrated Development of Leather Sector (IDLS) sub-scheme (proposed outlay INR 500 crore):- Assistance would be provided to the sectoral units for their modernization/capacity expansion/technology up-gradation on or after 01.01.2020 @30% to MSME units and 20% to other units. Financial assistance is being proposed to North Eastern Areas also @40% of cost of plant & machinery to MSME units and 30% of the same to other units with additional 5% financial assistance for the domestically manufactured plant and machinery. Maximum assistance will be provided upto INR 15 crore per product line keeping in view 5 times increase in upper limit of investment in Plant and Machinery by MSME.

    (iii) Establishment of Institutional Facilities (proposed outlay INR 200 crore):- Setting up of International Testing Centre, Sports Complex, replacement of conventional light fixtures with LED lights and construction of girls hostel in FDDI campuses are planned.

    (iv) Mega Leather Footwear and Accessories Cluster Development (MLFACD) sub-scheme (proposed outlay INR 300 crore):- The sub-scheme aims at world-class infrastructure and to integrate the production chain in a manner that caters to the business needs of the leather and footwear industry so as to cater to the domestic market and exports.

    Graded assistance is proposed to be provided @50% of the project cost or @70% of the project cost in Northeastern areas, for land development, core infrastructure, HRD and social infrastructure, production facilities including ready to use sheds with plug and play facility, R&D support and export services excluding cost of land with maximum Government assistance being limited to INR 125 crore.

    (v) Brand Promotion of Indian Brands in Leather and Footwear Sector (proposed outlay INR 100 crore):- The GoI assistance is proposed to be 50% of total project cost subject to limit of INR 10 crore for each brand in next three year to promote 10 Indian brands in the International Market in 3 years. The designated agency to implement the sub-scheme is being proposed to be selected amongst institutes like NID, NIFT, IBEF, IIFT or Institutes of similar standing.

    (vi) Development of Design Studios (proposed outlay INR 100 crore):- This is a new sub-scheme. Assistance would be provided to develop 10 Indian design studio. The studios will promote marketing/export linkages, facilitates buyer- seller meets, display designs to international buyers and work as interface for the trade fairs. Design Studios will be kind of ‘one-stop- shop' providing a wide range of services: design, technical support, quality control etc. Institutes like FDDI, CLRI, NID, NIFT, IBEF, IIFT or institutes of similar standing or any large units of the industry or group of industry would be the implementing agencies. For more details, please visit the link - https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1795797

    Was it helpful?

    VIEW ALL