Leather exports up 3.68% in dollar terms

Meanwhile, the council has requested the Union Commerce ministry to provide financial support to individual exporters to undertake aggressive marketing by exploring new markets and exploiting full potential of the existing ones. CLE has proposed to the ministry to extend Market Development Assistance (MDA) grant-in-aid to individual exporters to the extent of one percent of previous year’s export performance. CLE has already entered new markets in Latin American countries and West Asia.

Ahmed said the positive trend in dollar terms was brought about by the 70.59 per cent increase in leather goods exports from $ 203.01 million to $ 346.30 million during the period under review. The rise was 94.88 per cent in rupee terms at Rs 1454.21 crore (746.22 crore).

Exports of products like saddlery and harness, footwear components, leather garments and finished leather increased in rupee terms by 16.75 per cent, 12.31 per cent, 4.99 per cent and 2.26 per cent respectively. In dollar terms the export growth rate has been negative.

Leather footwear export has declined by 5.73 per cent in rupee terms to Rs 809.41 crore (858.57 crore) and 17.48 per cent in dollar terms to $ 192.75 million ($ 235.57 million).

The major markets for Indian leather and leather products continue to be Germany (22.69 per cent), the US (15.94 per cent), the UK 13.33 per cent and Italy (11.81 percent).

Ahmed said China continues to be the major competitor. The challenge from the East European countries like Poland, Romania, Macedonia, Czech and Slovak Republics continues particularly for leather footwear as they enjoy geographical advantage owing to their proximity to the European markets.

Council for Leather Exports (CLE) has brought out a detailed national and region-wise value and quantity-based export statistics based on data collected from the exporters. So far the only source for export statistics has been the DGCI&S Calcutta.

The outgoing CLE chairman, who released the book in Chennai on Monday, said “this will serve as a reference book to the members of the council and will be of tremendous use to the government departments. Indian Embassies/Consulates and even overseas buyers can acquaint themselves with the top exporters of leather and leather products even region-wise”. The first issue covers facts and figures of exports of leather and leather products during1997-98.

Construction exports

NEW DELHI: The country’s construction business posted a 100 per cent growth in exports in the period April-March 1998-99 while most of the sectors in the auto industry projected negative rates in the same period, a latest business survey has indicated. The construction of projects leaped from 20.4 per cent to the current cent per cent figures. The Ascon Industry Survey of CII has said that software goods was another sector having an excellent export growth touching a high of 60 percent.