At a glance
- Incoterms
- FOB, FCA, CIF, DAP
India's leather footwear export trade
India exported US$2,007.8 mn of leather footwear in FY2024-25 according to leatherindia.org.
Largest destinations by value share: USA; Germany; UK (CLE sector-level ranking)
Export markets we serve
| Market | What matters there | Sea transit from India |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | REACH (ECHA); Chromium VI (ECHA (REACH Annex XVII entry 47)) | 21-27 via Suez; 31-38 via Cape days |
| Netherlands | REACH (ECHA); Chromium VI (ECHA (REACH Annex XVII entry 47)) | 18-24 via Suez; 28-35 via Cape days |
| France | REACH (ECHA); Chromium VI (ECHA (REACH Annex XVII entry 47)) | 20–25 d to Le Havre; 15–20 d to Marseille-Fos (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2: typical liner schedules) |
| Italy | REACH (ECHA); Chromium VI (ECHA (REACH Annex XVII entry 47)) | 15–20 d to Genoa/La Spezia via Suez (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2: typical liner schedules) |
| Spain | REACH (ECHA); Chromium VI (ECHA (REACH Annex XVII entry 47)) | 15–20 d to Valencia/Barcelona/Algeciras via Suez (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2: typical liner schedules) |
| United Kingdom | General import clearance | 20-26 via Suez; 30-37 via Cape days |
| United States | General import clearance | 24-30 via Suez; 32-40 via Cape days |
| Canada | General import clearance | 26-34 via Suez; 34-42 via Cape days |
| United Arab Emirates | General import clearance | 3-6 days |
| Saudi Arabia | General import clearance | 6-10 days |
| Bahrain | General import clearance | 7–10 d via Jebel Ali/Dammam (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Qatar | General import clearance | 6–9 d to Hamad Port, often via Jebel Ali/Salalah transhipment (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Kuwait | General import clearance | 8–12 d to Shuwaikh/Shuaiba, usually via Jebel Ali (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Belgium | REACH (ECHA); Chromium VI (ECHA (REACH Annex XVII entry 47)) | 19-25 via Suez; 29-36 via Cape days |
| Poland | REACH (ECHA); Chromium VI (ECHA (REACH Annex XVII entry 47)) | 28–35 d to Gdańsk (direct Asia–Baltic loops or via Hamburg/Rotterdam feeder) (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Sweden | REACH (ECHA); Chromium VI (ECHA (REACH Annex XVII entry 47)) | 28–35 d to Gothenburg via Hamburg/Rotterdam feeder (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Oman | General import clearance | 3–5 d Mundra/Nhava Sheva → Sohar/Muscat; 4–6 d Salalah (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Denmark | REACH (ECHA); Chromium VI (ECHA (REACH Annex XVII entry 47)) | 28–35 d to Aarhus/Copenhagen via Hamburg feeder (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Ireland | REACH (ECHA); Chromium VI (ECHA (REACH Annex XVII entry 47)) | 25–32 d to Dublin via Rotterdam/Antwerp/UK feeder (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
Transit times are typical port-to-port estimates; regulatory items are the main product-specific requirements, not an exhaustive list.
Where leather footwear is sourced in India
Uttar Pradesh — Agra, Kanpur Nagar, Unnao. Agra is the largest footwear cluster; Kanpur safety shoes
Tamil Nadu — Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupathur, Chennai. Ambur-Ranipet-Vaniyambadi
West Bengal — Kolkata.
- Vellore district tanning belt (Ambur-Ranipet-Vaniyambadi) / Kanpur-Unnao (saddlery, safety footwear) / Kolkata Bantala leather complex (Tamil Nadu; Uttar Pradesh; West Bengal; Maharashtra) · ships via Chennai · season: Year-round; raw hides seasonal (post-Eid/ winter)
- Agra / Ambur-Ranipet (Uttar Pradesh; Tamil Nadu; Haryana; Delhi; Karnataka) · ships via Nhava Sheva · season: Year-round; AW samples Jan-Mar, SS Jul-Sep (ASSUMPTION)
- Kolkata (industrial gloves) / Rajkot (West Bengal; Gujarat; Tamil Nadu; Delhi NCR) · ships via Kolkata/Haldia · season: Year-round
Typical export specification
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Construction | Cemented, Blake-stitched, Goodyear-welted, strobel, injection-moulded (safety) (typical) |
| Upper | Full-grain cow/buff, calf, nubuck, suede, goat (typical) |
| Sole | Leather, rubber, TPR, PU, EVA (typical) |
| Sizes | EU 39-47 men, 35-42 women; UK/US equivalents (typical) |
| Restricted substances | Cr VI not detected (< 3 mg/kg); azo-free; PCP-free (typical buyer spec) |
| Safety | EN ISO 20345 S1/S3 or ASTM F2413 for safety shoes (typical) |
Agreed per contract and confirmed by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Export documentation
Documents we prepare or arrange for each shipment:
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of lading / airway bill
- Certificate of origin (preferential where an FTA applies)
- Inspection certificate
- Lab test reports (REACH RSL)
- Safety footwear test certificate (EN ISO 20345)
Frequently asked questions
What is the HS code for leather footwear exported from India?
Leather Footwear is usually classified under HS 6403 (Footwear with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather and uppers of leather). Subheadings by sole, cover and protective toe-cap (e.g. 6403.40 metal toe-cap; 6403.59 leather soles; 6403.99 others). Uppers alone are 6406.
Where is leather footwear produced in India?
Main clusters: Vellore district tanning belt (Ambur-Ranipet-Vaniyambadi) / Kanpur-Unnao (saddlery, safety footwear) / Kolkata Bantala leather complex, Tamil Nadu; Uttar Pradesh; West Bengal; Maharashtra; Agra / Ambur-Ranipet, Uttar Pradesh; Tamil Nadu; Haryana; Delhi; Karnataka; Kolkata (industrial gloves) / Rajkot, West Bengal; Gujarat; Tamil Nadu; Delhi NCR.
Which documents are needed to export leather footwear?
Commercial invoice, Packing list, Bill of lading / airway bill, Certificate of origin (preferential where an FTA applies), Inspection certificate, Lab test reports (REACH RSL), Safety footwear test certificate (EN ISO 20345). Destination-specific registrations are listed on each market page.
What is Goodyear welting?
A construction where the upper, insole and a leather welt are stitched together and the sole is stitched to the welt. Shoes made this way are durable and can be resoled.
Can you test for chromium VI?
Yes. Each production can be tested at accredited labs against the EU limit of 3 mg/kg.
What's the minimum order?
Around 300-600 pairs per style, spread across sizes, depending on the factory.
Market guides
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