The 38th India International Leather Fair (IILF), held from February 1st to 3rd, 2025 at the Chennai Trade Centre, concluded on a high note, cementing its position as a premier global event for the leather industry. The fair drew a diverse crowd of exhibitors and visitors from across the globe, providing a unique platform to display cutting-edge innovations, trends and technologies.
IILF 2025 enjoyed robust participation from Indian companies, offering them a valuable opportunity to bolster their international presence and forge connections with potential business partners. A significant number of international exhibitors from countries like Italy, Germany, China, Bangladesh and Brazil underscored India’s growing prominence in the global leather market. The presence of these foreign companies enriched the exhibition, introducing fresh perspectives and technologies and facilitating the exchange of knowledge and expertise among industry players worldwide.
Italy, a global leader in leather processing and tanning machinery manufacturing, maintained a strong presence, demonstrating its keen interest in the Indian market, which is viewed as strategic for the sector’s growth. Italian companies enjoyed considerable success.
Key themes at IILF 2025 included sustainability and technological innovation. New technologies are driving improvements in production efficiency, cost reduction and product quality, while also enabling greater customization and design possibilities.
The fair also featured a range of ancillary events, such as seminars, workshops and conferences, enabling participants to deepen their understanding of the latest market trends and discuss the challenges facing the industry. International experts explored topics like sustainability, technological innovation, digitization and professional development, providing valuable insights and strategies for businesses in the sector.
The fair reaffirmed its importance as a must-attend event for leather industry professionals. IILF 2025 served as a vital forum for dialogue and advancement, further solidifying India’s role as a key player on the world stage.
Italy at IILF: “Assomac Around the World 2025: India launch”
The launch of Assomac internationalization program for 2025 took place at the India International Leather Fair (IILF) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. For the 18 participating Italian companies, the presence in Chennai, a significant and rapidly growing market with a projected GDP increase of 6.5% in 2025, offered a valuable opportunity to showcase their technologies and products, as well as to establish connections with potential clients and partners.
The IILF featured over 400 exhibitors, approximately 60 of whom hailed from 17 different countries. A dedicated Italian national pavilion, organized by ICE (Italian Trade & Investment Agency) in collaboration with Assomac, took center stage. India, with a leather goods industry that reached €17 billion in 2024 and a projected growth to €45 billion by 2030, is a major leather producer (approximately 1 billion square meters) and the world’s second-largest manufacturer of footwear and leather goods.
In 2024, Italy reaffirmed its position as the second leading supplier of leather processing machinery, after China, with an export value of €14.62 million and a market share of 20.8%, recording a substantial 42.15% growth compared to the same period of the previous year. Italian participation in the IILF underscores the significance of the Indian market for Italian companies in the leather and leather goods sectors, and provides a chance to consolidate their presence and cultivate new commercial partnerships.
