Raw hide production

The leather industry is one of the oldest and most complex industries world-wide. It is closely coupled to raw hide production and hence to meat consumption. livestock is bred world-wide. Accordingly, tanneries are located all around the globe. The articles made from leather differ greatly, ranging from shoe upper leather to apparel leather and to automotive leather. 

Since finished leather production is determined by raw hide production (Fig. 11-4), the annual growth rate of leather produced is only small (ca. 0.8 % year ). The predominant portion of leather produced is cattle hide (ca. 60 %), followed by small-animal skins (sheep, goat) at about 30 % and pork leather at ca. 10 %. 

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