Brazilian Leather to Showcase at Trade Fairs in the United States and India Soon

The 2025 international trade show schedule for Brazilian leather is about to kick off. In the coming weeks, Brazilian tanneries will exhibit at Lineapelle New York (January 29-30) in New York City and the India International Leather Fair (IILF) in Chennai (February 1-3). Both participations are supported by Brazilian Leather, a sectoral export promotion project developed by the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil).

Outside Asia, Lineapelle New York stands out as the trade fair with the largest number of individual Brazilian leather exhibitors, hosting 15 tanneries. This reflects the significance of the U.S. market for Brazilian leather exports. “The United States remains the second-largest importer of Brazilian leather, trailing only China and Hong Kong. Lineapelle New York is a key platform for showcasing our full potential to global brands headquartered or operating in the city, where purchasing decisions for materials destined for industries worldwide are made,” explains Letícia Luft, manager of the Brazilian Leather project. Luft highlights 2024 figures for U.S. imports of Brazilian leather: US$166.8 million in revenue, with over 98% of the materials in finished and semi-finished stages, representing 13.3% of Brazil’s total leather exports.

Following that, the India International Leather Fair (IILF) offers opportunities for leather at all stages of tanning, buoyed by a surge in Brazilian leather exports to India, which grew 21.6% in 2024. Bianca Corrêa, from Brazilian Leather’s trade promotion team and an attendee at the Chennai event, notes the decentralization of production within Asia as a positive trend for India’s role in global manufacturing. This shift is particularly evident in the footwear market, where India boasts strong domestic consumption alongside its export capabilities. The country ranks as the sixth-largest footwear exporter globally by volume (257 million pairs in 2023) and the 12th largest by value ($2.2 billion annually). Leather footwear accounts for 45% of India’s total footwear exports in terms of volume.

About Brazilian Leather
Brazilian Leather is a sectoral project dedicated to the internationalization of Brazilian leather, spearheaded by the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) in partnership with ApexBrasil. Its strategies include supporting tanneries at major global trade shows, organizing business missions, and fostering closer ties between Brazilian suppliers and international buyers. Learn more at www.brazilianleather.com.br.

About ApexBrasil
The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) promotes Brazilian products and services abroad while attracting foreign investment to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. The agency’s initiatives range from trade missions and business matchmaking to supporting Brazilian companies at major international fairs and hosting visits for foreign buyers and opinion leaders to showcase Brazil’s productive capacity. ApexBrasil also collaborates with public and private stakeholders to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to boost competitiveness in key industries.

About CICB
The Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) represents Brazil’s leather production companies. Founded in 1957, the CICB focuses on promoting growth, quality, and unity within the sector. Guided by sustainability, the CICB leads projects in technology development, workforce training, advocacy with government bodies, market research, design innovation, and industry reputation building. It also fosters institutional representation, connects with the leather production chain, and operates working groups on Traceability and Communication with members nationwide.