Brazilian Leather industry heads to Italy for Lineapelle

As a trendsetter and the world's largest leather exporter, Italy is a strategic hub for research, business, and development in the tanning industry. Its premier trade fair, Lineapelle, will take place soon, from February 25 to 27, in Milan, featuring five Brazilian companies with individual stands. The participation of Brazilian leather in this event is supported by the Brazilian Leather project, a partnership between the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil).

The Brazilian tanneries exhibiting at the event are Couro e Arte, Courovale, Curtume Bolzano, Fuga Couros, and Nova Kaeru. These five companies will showcase developments for the Summer 2026 fashion collections, benefiting from the positive scenario left by the equivalent edition of Lineapelle in February 2024. At that event, over 25,000 visitors attended (an increase compared to the previous two editions), exploring more than 1,100 exhibitors. Foreign participation was significant, accounting for 39% of attendees, with a strong presence from buyers in France, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, Turkey, the United States, and China.

In 2024 alone, Italian importers accounted for 11.4% of Brazilian hides and skins exports, ranking as the third-largest buyer (with a 5.7% increase in value compared to 2023). Nearly 45% of the leather purchased by Italy from Brazil consists of finished or semi-finished leather, meaning it has higher added value. Besides leading global leather exports, Italy holds a significant advantage over the second-largest exporter, the United States: Italy’s revenue from international leather sales is more than double that of the U.S.

About ApexBrasil

The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) works to promote Brazilian products and services abroad and attract foreign investments into strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. The agency carries out a wide range of commercial promotion activities to boost exports and enhance the global visibility of Brazilian products and services. These activities include prospective and trade missions, business rounds, support for Brazilian companies in major international trade fairs, and hosting visits from foreign buyers and opinion leaders to showcase Brazil's production capabilities. ApexBrasil also collaborates with public and private sector stakeholders to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to Brazil, focusing on strategic industries that enhance the competitiveness of Brazilian companies and the country. To learn more, visit apexbrasil.com.br.

About Brazilian Leather

The Brazilian Leather project is an initiative to promote the internationalization of Brazilian leather, led by the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) in partnership with ApexBrasil. Several strategies support the consolidation of Brazilian leather in international markets, including encouraging tanneries to participate in the world's leading leather trade fairs and organizing business missions to strengthen ties between Brazilian suppliers and international buyers. More information is available at www.brazilianleather.com.br.

About CICB

The Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) represents the country’s leather producers. Since its founding in 1957, CICB has worked towards growth, qualification, strengthening, and unity within the sector. Sustainability is the organization's guiding principle, driving initiatives in technology development, workforce training, government relations, industry advocacy, commercial promotion, reputation building, technical qualification, design, research, and market intelligence. CICB also plays a key role in institutional representation, supply chain dialogue, and industry-wide working groups—Traceability and Communication—with members across Brazil.