Pakistan’s leather industry may increase raw material imports this Eid season as fewer goats and sheep are expected to be slaughtered due to inflation and weak consumer purchasing power, Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA) Chairman Hamid Arshad Zahur told Arab News.

Pakistan’s leather and leather products industry, valued at around $850 million to $900 million, is one of the country’s major export sectors supplying leather, garments, gloves and footwear to markets across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Zahur said more consumers are shifting toward collective sacrifices of cows and bulls instead of individually purchasing goats and sheep because of rising prices.

According to PTA estimates, cow and bull slaughter during Eid Al-Adha 2026 is expected to increase nearly 12% to 2.8 million animals from 2.5 million last year.

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At the same time, goat and sheep slaughter is expected to decline 4% to 4.8 million animals, including 4.3 million goats and 500,000 sheep. The industry also expects to collect around 30,000 camel hides and total hides worth nearly Rs 10 billion ($36 million) this year.

“The reason is people’s purchasing power, which is declining and forcing them to shift to collective sacrifices”

– Hamid Arshad Zahur, Chairman, Pakistan Tanners Association

He added that goat and sheep prices in local cattle markets have reached nearly Rs60,000 (~$215)

Zahur also said the average animal skin size has declined in recent years, including goat skins. Earlier, during Eid seasons we used to get skin sizes ranging from 30 to 32 sq. That has now reduced to nearly 26 sq.

“When the quantity of goat & sheep skin reduces, the manufacturers would opt for more imports”

– Hamid Arshad Zahur, Chairman, PTA

Pakistan’s leather industry currently imports nearly $150 million worth of raw skins due to local shortages. Zahur said imports may rise further if the availability of goat and sheep skins declines further during the Eid season.

Pakistan imports skins from countries including New Zealand, the UK, Australia, South America and South Africa, while major export markets include Vietnam, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Italy, Spain, the US and the UAE.

According to Arab News, Pakistan’s leather exports stood at $848.3 million in FY25. During July-April FY26, exports declined 0.1% to $699.5 million compared to $706.5 million during the same period last year.

Zahur said the slight export slowdown was partly linked to the West Asia conflict during March and April 2026, which affected vessel movement and delayed exports.

For more details, read the full report on Arab News.