Leather UK recently published the “United Kingdom’s Leather and Leather Goods Industry performance in 2025” report, highlighting how the country’s leather sector performed in 2025. The UK leather industry faced continued market pressure in 2025 as total UK leather exports fell 14.08% to £159.5 million while imports declined 11.17% to £99.45 million compared to the previous year.
The UK leather industry is made up of highly specialized, high end producers supplying international automotive, upholstery, shoe upper, sole, gloving, chamois, equestrian and wet blue leather markets.
UK continues to export more than 80% of its total leather production to destinations spanning over 90 countries.
Now lets look at both the export and the import side of the UK Leather Industry.
UK Global Exports of Hides, Skins, Wet Blue, Crust and Finished Leather in 2025
| Category | Value (£m) | % Change vs 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Raw Materials (Hides & Skins) | £63.08 Million | -10.67% |
| Part-Processed Leather (Wet Blue & Crust) | £18.32 Million | -21.84% |
| Finished Leather | £78.10 Million | -14.56% |
| Total Exports | £159.50 Million | -14.08% |
Total leather exports from UK fell 14.08% in value to £159.50 million but dropped only 2.14% in volume to 126.77 ktonnes.
Raw material exports were valued at £63.08 million in 2025. Export volumes increased slightly by 0.91% to 115.46 kilotonnes, but export value fell 10.67% when compared to 2024
The gains seen in part-processed leather (Wet Blue & Crust) exports during 2024 were not sustained in 2025. Export value fell 21.84% to £18.32 million and export volume dropped 16.81% to 9.19 kilotonnes.
Finished leather exports also continued their downward trend. Export value declined 14.56% to £78.10 million while export volume fell only 1.93% to 2.12 kilotonnes.
UK Global Imports of Hides, Skins, Wet Blue, Crust and Finished Leather in 2025
| Category | Value (£m) | % Change vs 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Raw Materials (Hides & Skins) | £2.63 Million | -27.12% |
| Part-Processed Leather (Wet Blue & Crust) | £9.91 Million | +27.23% |
| Finished Leather | £86.91 Million | -13.70% |
| Total Imports | £99.45 Million | -11.17% |
Imports also reflected the challenges facing the wider UK leather sector. Total imports fell 11.17% in value to £99.45 million and 15.47% in volume to 9.86 kilotonnes.
Raw material imports fell for a fourth consecutive year, declining 27.12% in value to £2.63 million and 21.42% in volume to 3.78 kilotonnes.
In contrast, part-processed leather (Wet Blue & Crust) imports increased 27.23% in value to £9.91 million and 19.81% in volume to 2.14 kilotonnes, reversing declines recorded in previous years.
Finished leather imports continued to decline, falling 13.7% in value to £86.91 million and 22.5% in volume to 3.94 kilotonnes.
This is Part 1 of our deep dive into the UK Leather Industry 2025 report. Stay tuned as we continue the series breaking down each key segment in detail.
To read the full report by Leather UK, Click here.
