Zimbabwe is seeking to reposition its leather sector as a driver of industrial growth and rural incomes, with renewed policy focus on shifting from raw hide exports to higher-value finished products.

 The move reflects broader efforts to strengthen manufacturing under national industrialisation frameworks and reduce value losses associated with primary commodity exports.

At a stakeholders’ workshop in Bulawayo, Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndhlovu emphasized the need for structural transformation within the sector, urging stakeholders to “shift from raw hide exports to high-quality finished leather products,” highlighting technology, investment, and partnerships as key enablers of value addition.

Current trade data underscores the scale of the opportunity—and the gap. Zimbabwe exported approximately US$35.3 million worth of raw hides, skins, and leather products in 2024, with the bulk of exports concentrated in low-value, semi-processed materials.

Much of this trade is regionally concentrated, with South Africa alone accounting for over US$26 million, or nearly three-quarters of total exports, indicating limited diversification and continued reliance on raw or minimally processed outputs.

Exports of higher-value finished leather products remain marginal, with shipments to markets such as Germany and the United States measured in the low millions or even thousands of dollars annually, highlighting the limited penetration of premium export segments.

This export structure points to a significant import substitution opportunity.

Zimbabwe continues to import finished leather goods, including footwear, upholstery, and industrial leather inputs, primarily from regional and Asian markets. While precise import figures for finished leather goods vary, the broader pattern reflects a common structural imbalance: exporting raw materials while importing higher-value finished products.

Regionally, this contrasts with more developed leather value chains. Countries such as Ethiopia and Kenya have increasingly shifted toward exporting finished leather goods, supported by targeted industrial policies and investment in tanning and manufacturing capacity. South Africa, meanwhile, maintains a more integrated leather industry, combining raw material processing with downstream manufacturing, allowing it to capture more value domestically and dominate regional trade flows.

Zimbabwe’s livestock base provides a strong foundation for reversing this trend. With a national herd exceeding 5 million cattle and significant goat and sheep populations, the country has the raw material capacity to support a scaled leather industry. However, challenges persist around hide quality, processing infrastructure, and access to finance, limiting the transition to higher-value production.

The Ministry noted that the leather value chain could benefit over 2.5 million rural families, reflecting its importance to livelihoods and agricultural linkages.

Expanding local processing capacity could therefore deliver both industrial and social gains, increasing incomes for farmers while strengthening manufacturing supply chains.

At the same time, competitiveness will be key. Finished leather products require consistent quality, certification, and cost efficiency to compete in both regional and global markets. Under frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, Zimbabwe has an opportunity to access larger markets, but success will depend on scaling production and meeting export standards.