Italy’s tanning industry recorded a 6.4% decline in turnover and a 5.2% fall in production volumes in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year, according to the latest Market Insights Report by Lineapelle.
The report said the negative trend affecting the Italian tanning sector and the wider international leather supply chain has continued for almost 4 years.
The weak market is mainly linked to the difficult and uncertain global geopolitical situation and continued inflation which has affected the purchasing power of consumers globally particularly for fashion, furniture and automotive products.
Italian exports of tanned leather also declined falling 4.9% in value compared with the first half of 2025.
Among Italy’s 20 main export destinations, only 4 recorded no decline. Exports to France increased 8%, making it increasingly the main destination for Italian leather exports. Portugal remained stable while exports to Türkiye increased 2% and Cambodia recorded a 40% increase.
Exports declined to Spain (-4%), Vietnam (-8%), Germany (-2%), Romania (-13%), China (-8%, including Hong Kong), the USA (-1%), Tunisia (-11%), Serbia (-14%), Albania (-3%), Poland (-21%), the UK (-6%), South Korea (-5%), India (-20%), Hungary (-21%), Slovakia (-5%) and Mexico (-6%).
The report said the performance of individual segments and production districts of the Italian tanning industry also remained broadly negative during the first half.
One of the few positive developments was an improvement in the quarter-on-quarter trend during the second quarter compared with the first quarter of 2026.
