Archive · 2 Dec 2025
India's Leather Industry Aims to Reopen Russia Trade After 40 Years
India's leather industry, especially from Uttar Pradesh, is trying to restart trade with Russia after a long time.
The US has put high taxes on Indian goods, so Indian exporters are looking for new markets.
A group of 22 people from the Council for Leather Exports will visit Russia to discuss business opportunities.
Kanpur, a city in Uttar Pradesh, makes many leather products and exports them to different countries.
The trade with Russia used to be big a long time ago, and now they want to make it strong again.
This could help the leather industry in India grow and become more stable.
India's leather industry, particularly from Uttar Pradesh, is preparing to reopen trade ties with Russia after nearly 40 years due to a 50 percent tariff imposed by the United States.
A 22-member delegation from the Council for Leather Exports (CLE) will visit Russia between 8 and 10 December to launch a joint venture programme with Russian partners.
Kanpur, a major leather manufacturing hub in Uttar Pradesh, exports leather products worth ₹6,000–6,500 crore annually, with a total export value of ₹10,000 crore.
Bilateral trade between India and Russia reached USD 68.7 billion in 2024–25, and exporters expect that tapping into this market will help stabilise and expand the leather sector.
Meetings between Indian exporters and Russian buyers are scheduled in Delhi ahead of the official visit to discuss market expansion and supply chains.
- Who
- Indian leather exporters, particularly from Uttar Pradesh, and Russian trade partners
- What
- Reopening of trade ties between India's leather industry and Russia after 40 years
- When
- The 22-member delegation from the Council for Leather Exports (CLE) will visit Russia between 8 and 10 December 2024
- Where
- Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, and Moscow, Russia
- Why
- Due to a 50 percent tariff imposed by the United States on Indian goods, which has impacted their business, exporters are seeking alternative markets
- Exports from Uttar Pradesh (2024–25)
- ₹1.86 lakh crore
- Dependence on US market
- 19%
- Kanpur's annual leather export value
- ₹6,000–6,500 crore
- India–Russia bilateral trade (2024–25)
- USD 68.7 billion
- CLE delegation members
- 22
- Delegation visit dates
- 8–10 December
- Kanpur's total export value
- ₹10,000 crore annually