Leather Production
South Africa’s leather industry has come a long way from mainly supplying leather boots during the world wars in the early to mid-20th century. Since the British and Dutch colonies brought this industry to South African shores, the local leather and footwear value chain has diversified into multiple sub-sectors.
The leather industry in South Africa comprises the domestic market, export market and the sub-sectors of footwear, leather goods, handbags and luggage, crocodile leather, ostrich leather and taxidermy. With unfavourable market conditions currently setting in on a local and global scale, the country’s leather industry is continually faced with various challenges.
In 2009 the Clothing and Textiles Competitiveness Programme (CTCP) was introduced in the footwear, leather, clothing and textile sectors to combat growing pressures created by inexpensive and illegal leather-related imports. Since then, support provided by the CTCP has helped the South African leather industry to grow by 13,39% from 2010 to 2013. The leather and footwear export sector also grew by 167% between 2010 and 2016, increasing from R1,98 billion to R5,29 billion.
Wildlife Wealth intends to become one of the leaders in the field of exotic tanning manufacturing including a variety of game skins.