The French leather industry comprises a total of 45 tanneries, with a turnover of 404 million euros and a workforce of 1,550 (19 of these tanneries process large animal hides, while the remaining 26 convert small animal skins). Thanks to the know-how of these tanneries, French leather is a highly-prized commodity: the demand comes from large corporations, both in France and at̀ international level. The market is enjoying sustained growth, and turnover has been rising since 2012. France is the world’s leading producer of calf leathers and exotic skins (crocodile, iguana, ostrich and others).
A number of major French brands have sought to guarantee their security of supply, to enable them to cope with a shortage of raw materials and an inflationary trend in leather costs. Applying the logic of integrated manufacturing, these companies have adopted́ a strategy of moving upstream to integrate production and exploit know-how, by taking over suppliers.