Animal skins collected during Eid al-Adha, are giving a major economic boost to Türkiye’s leather industry by supporting domestic raw material supply and reducing imports. Industry representatives told Daily Sabah that the collected skins are processed into export products such as shoes, handbags and leather garments.

Mehmet Musa Evin, member of the Leather, Fur and Saddlery Committee of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO), said leather producers wait for Eid al- Adha every year because it increases the supply of local raw materials.

“Imports of raw leather into Türkiye decline during Eid al-Adha. This is a major gain for the leather industry”

– Mehmet Musa Evin, Member, Leather, Fur and Saddlery Committee, Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO).

According to Evin, sacrificial animal skins generate between $700 million and $800 million in economic value for the leather sector as raw material.

After processing in tanneries, the finished products also reach a market value and additional value is created through gelatin production.

Evin said many skins are still wasted because they are collected late, handled improperly or not salted correctly.

Evin said skins from animals slaughtered in Istanbul are mainly processed in Tuzla and Çorlu. He also stressed the need for cold storage facilities because Eid al-Adha falls during summer and poor storage damages raw skins.

For more details, read the full report on Daily Sabah