French leather goods exports reached €3.14 billion during the first quarter of 2026, between January and March, down 4% from €3.29 billion in the same period last year, according to Alliance France Cuir.
At the same time, the French leather goods industry also reported imports of €1.02 billion between January and March 2026, a 6% decline from €1.09 billion in Q1 2025.
Leather Goods Exports by Category
| Category | Q1 2026 | Q1 2025 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handbags | €2,273.8 Million | €2,306.7 Million | -1% |
| Small Leather Goods | €245.8 Million | €314.2 Million | -22% |
| Watch Straps | €35.1 Million | €37.9 Million | -7% |
| Total Exports | €3,140.6 Million | €3,287.1 Million | -4% |
France’s leather goods exports declined from €3.29 billion in Q1 2025 to €3.14 billion in Q1 2026, representing a 4% decrease.
Handbags remained the largest leather goods export category. Exports declined 1% from €2.30 billion in Q1 2025 to €2.27 billion in Q1 2026.
Small leather goods recorded the sharpest decline among the categories. Exports fell 22% from €314.2 million to €245.8 million.
Watch straps exports also decreased, dropping 7% from €37.9 million in Q1 2025 to €35.1 million in Q1 2026.
Now, let’s look at the import side of the French leather goods industry in Q1 2026.
Leather Goods Imports by Category
| Category | Q1 2026 | Q1 2025 | % Change |
| Handbags | €461.8 Million | €478.8 Million | -4% |
| Small Leather Goods | €70.9 Million | €73.2 Million | -3% |
| Watch Straps | €15.6 Million | €12.5 Million | +25% |
| Total Imports | €1,024.9 Million | €1,090.7 Million | -6% |
France’s leather goods imports declined from €1.09 billion in Q1 2025 to €1.024 billion in Q1 2026, a decrease of 6%.
Handbags remained the largest leather goods import category. Imports fell 4% from €478.8 million in Q1 2025 to €461.8 million in Q1 2026.
Small leather goods imports declined 3% from €73.2 million to €70.9 million.
Watch straps were the only category to record growth on the import side. Imports increased 25% from €12.5 million in Q1 2025 to €15.6 million in Q1 2026.
The French leather industry reported total exports worth €4.55 Billion in the first quarter of 2026 between January and March 2026, down 3.5% from €4.72 Billion recorded during the same period in 2025, according to Alliance France Cuir.
The figures cover the five major segments of the French leather industry, including Raw Hides and Skins, Leather, Footwear, Leather Goods and Gloves.
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