Leather industries

Opportunity Brief

The leather industry is one of the important industries that distinguish Egyptian manufacturing, and this sector is considered highly promising in Egypt. This is reflected in the increase of Egypt’s exports of leather, footwear, and leather products by 16.6% in 2022. In 2023, Egypt’s exports from the leather sector reached 113 million USD, marking a 25% increase compared to 2022. Exports of leather, footwear, and leather products to Africa also rose by 63.6% during the past year. Egypt enjoys a strong base of raw materials for the leather industry, represented in the livestock population, which reached 7.5 million heads in 2022. Moreover, Egypt exports leather that is used in many of the world’s most renowned international brands. The government is keen to upgrade the leather industry with the aim of making Egypt a strategic hub for leather manufacturing—not only at the local or regional level, but also globally. This is being achieved through integration across the value chains of the Egyptian leather industry, with the goal of delivering a high-quality product capable of competing in both local and international markets. As part of this vision, Robiki Leather City was established. It is one of the most important specialized industrial cities, designed in line with the latest global systems and in compliance with environmental standards. The project’s general objectives include increasing the production capacity of tanned leather from 100 million square feet annually to 300 million square feet annually, as well as raising worker productivity from 60 square feet per day to the global average of 250 square feet per day through training programs at the city’s technological centers. In addition, the project aims to attract new investment, enhance the competitiveness of leather products, and provide 20,000 direct and indirect job opportunities.