In the first half of 2025, the leather trade balance is critical. This is according to Alliance France Cuir’s report that imports remain stable while exports drop slightly, signaling a shift in trade flows. Asia gains ground as a strategic partner, while Europe loses centrality. At the same time, a quality trend asserts itself: less volume, but high-end products. A double movement that reshapes the international profile of the French supply chain.
Leather trade balance
France is reorienting its imports: Europe loses 9% and falls to 46% of the total, while Asia rises to 50% (+11%). Major Asian players drive this evolution: China (+7%), Vietnam (+19%), Indonesia (+11%), India (+7%) and Cambodia (+29%). Vietnam, in particular, consolidates as the third supplier, covering 23% of French footwear imports by value, and also registering significant increases in leather goods (+15%) and leather gloves (+28%). In contrast, historic European partners show signs of slowing down. Italy, the first supplier and third customer in the supply chain, closes 2024 with a major decline. French exports of raw materials to Italy drop by 6%, directly affecting tanners. Imports from the peninsula also suffer: -16% in leather goods and -11% in footwear. Lower customs prices (-4% for shoes, -15% for handbags) confirm a cost-containment-oriented strategy, with Asia at the center.
Less quantity, more value
Although the trade balance remains positive, the difference shrinks by 0.3 billion euro compared to the first half of 2024, due to declining international demand. The main Asian markets show signs of weakness: China (-1%), Japan (-5%), Hong Kong (-11%), Singapore (-27%) and South Korea (-12%). Each country shows specific critical issues: finished leathers struggle in China (-19%), leather bags in Singapore (-27%) and footwear in Hong Kong (-22%). Still, French leather goods show an ability to adapt. Fewer leather bags are being exported (-17% in volume), but at higher prices (+15%). Japan stands out as a premium market, increasing the value of its orders by 26%. A clear signal: the supply chain is not giving up on quality, and indeed enhancing it as a competitive lever in an evolving global context.
Photo from Alliance France Cuir
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