Your quick 5-minute brief on this week’s global leather & allied industry news

Good morning & welcome to another edition of Weekly Roundup by Leathernews.org

Every Sunday at 11 am, we bring you the entire week’s news, insights, updates, market research, analysis, expert opinions, facts & figures from the global leather & allied industries in a simplified & easy to read format, saving you time while keeping you well informed & updated in under 5 minutes.

Wollsdorf Leder Tannery Machinery Now Live for Online Auction Until May 28

Machinery and equipment from the recently bankrupt Austrian tannery Wollsdorf Leder Schmidt & Co is being auctioned online now from May 6 to May 28, 2026, through Dutch auction house Dome Auctions.

For tanneries looking to expand capacity, upgrade machinery or acquire equipment instead of investing in new machines, the auction presents an opportunity to obtain 100 top-brand European equipment at potentially competitive prices.

Tandy Leather Factory Reports $19.7 Million in Q1 2026 Revenue with 3.2% Growth

Tandy Leather generated operating income of $0.4 million compared to $0.3 million in the same period last year. Gross margins increased to 61.0% from 56.3% in 2025, while gross profit rose to $12.0 million from $10.7 million.

Bangladesh Leather and Leather Footwear Exports Rise 5.95% to $988 Million in First 10 Months of FY2025-26

Bangladesh’s leather, leather products and leather footwear exports increased 5.95% year-on-year to $988.06 million during the July 2025 to April 2026 period and during the same period last year, exports from the sector stood at $932.53 million, showing an increase of $55.53 million.

China Leather Industry Exports Fall 4.22% to $19.05 Billion While Imports Rise 4.6% in Q1 2026

According to official data released by the China Leather Industry Association (CLIA), China’s leather industry, which includes leather, footwear, leather garments, bags & cases sectors, recorded exports worth $19.05 billion from January to March 2026, Q1 2026, down 4.22% YoY. Imports during the same period stood at $3.87 billion, rising 4.6%.

China Raw Hides Imports Rise 1.9% While Semi-Finished and Finished Leather Imports Decline in Q1 2026

Imports of raw hides and skins reached 365,000 tons from January to March 2026, increasing 1.9% year-on-year in quantity. However, the import value dropped 6.1% to $290 million.

China Footwear Exports Fall 8% to $9.42 Billion While Imports Also Decline in Q1 2026

From January to March 2026, China exported 2.10 billion pairs of footwear, down 2.5% year-on-year in quantity. Export value reached $9.42 billion, marking a sharper decline of 8.0% compared to the same period last year.

Click on read more to know the leather footwear export and import stats.

Rwanda Shifts National Leather Tannery Park Project from Bugesera SEZ to Gicumbi District

Rwanda’s govt has shifted the planned national leather tannery park from Bugesera District to Gicumbi District after authorities found that the Bugesera SEZ could not host the facility. In 2025, former Prime Minister Édouard Ngirente said the tannery park could generate $430 million in annual revenue once fully operational.

Two Dead and Three Injured After Fire Breaks Out at Leather Goods Unit in Tiljala Kolkata

Two labourers died and three others were critically injured after a fire broke out at a leather goods manufacturing unit in Tiljala, Kolkata around 1pm on Tuesday May 12, 2026. The workers allegedly suffocated after getting trapped inside a washroom while trying to escape heavy smoke inside the building.

Banks Asked to Support Rawhide Traders Ahead of Eid-ul-Azha 2026 in Bangladesh

Bangladesh Bank, the central bank of Bangladesh, has directed all scheduled banks in Bangladesh to ensure enough working capital loans for rawhide traders ahead of Eid-ul-Azha 2026. The move aims to support the country’s leather industry & prevent wastage of rawhides collected during the festival.

Chattogram Rawhide Traders Demand Urgent Government Support Ahead of Eid al-Adha

The Greater Chattogram Rawhide Traders Cooperative Society Limited has placed several demands before the Bangladesh government ahead of Eid al-Adha, seeking urgent steps.

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