Leather product exports still rising

Exports of China leather and related industry products and shoes are being affected by an increase in imports. While exports rose to US$39.2 billion in 2006, up 9% year-on-year, the rate of increase dropped by 11%. Exports of leather, fur and finished products reached US$34.8 billion, up 7% year-on-year but the rate of increase dropped by 12%. When it came to imports, the volume of leather industries products and shoes amounted to US$7.7 billion in 2006, up 14% year-on-year with the rate of increase rising by 8%. Imports of leather, fur and finished products reached US$4.9 billion, up 19% year-on-year with the rate of increase up by 13%. The unit price of footwear exports kept increasing in 2006, to $2.75 per pair. This is 8cts/pair over last year. The price of shoes with leather uppers reached $6.30, which is up 38cts/pair over the previous year. The unit price of shoe imports in 2006 was $20.25/pair which is down 4cts/pair from a year earlier. The price of leather upper shoes was $6.30 or 88 cts/pair below the previous year. The volume of exports of raw hides and fur and finished leather in 2006 was $1.19 billion. This is down 54% year-on-year. Imports amounted to $51 billion, up 3% year-on-year.