Leather Hides Exporter in India: How Overseas Buyers Import Hides (Duty, Ports and Documents, 2026)

Nov 3

5 min read

Updated: 24 hours ago

Overseas buyers import leather hides from India by ordering finished or crust hides, which carry nil Indian export duty as of November 2026, and shipping them from any Indian port without mandatory CLRI testing. As a leather hides exporter in India, Sanwas International ships cow, buffalo and goat hides from Jalandhar to Asia, Europe, North America, Africa and Australia.

This guide is for tanneries, finishers, footwear and furniture factories, distributors and leather traders abroad who want to buy hides from India. Updated November 2026.

Key Takeaways

Indian export duty as of November 2026: nil on finished and crust leather, 20% on wet blue and other tanned wet-state hides, 40% on raw cattle hides.
DGFT Notification 15/2025-26 of 26 May 2025 lets finished, crust, wet blue and EI tanned leather ship from any Indian port, with CLRI testing no longer mandatory.
Import duty at destination depends on your country's tariff for HS 4104, 4107, 4112 or 4113, so confirm it with your customs broker.
Fix the Incoterm (FOB, CIF or DAP) and payment terms (TT or LC) on the proforma invoice before production.
Ask for the test reports your market requires, such as chromium VI results for the EU and UK.

Does India charge export duty on leather hides?

Only on raw and wet hides. India taxes less-processed hides to keep material for its own tanneries and leaves crust and finished leather duty-free, under Notification 27/2011-Customs as revised by Notification 37/2024-Customs and the Budget 2025-26 crust change confirmed by the Council for Leather Exports.

Form of leather	Indian export duty (as of Nov 2026)	What it means for importers
Raw cattle hides and skins	40%	Rarely viable to buy from India
Raw buffalo hides	30%	Rarely viable to buy from India
Wet blue (tanned, wet state)	20%	Duty is built into the price
Crust leather	Nil (since 2 February 2025)	Good option if you dye and finish yourself
Finished leather	Nil	Ready to cut; most common for brands and factories

Our guide to India's export duty on leather hides lists the HS codes line by line.

What changed for leather hides exporters in 2025?

Two rules eased in 2025. Export duty on crust leather fell from 20% to nil from 2 February 2025, and on 26 May 2025 DGFT Notification 15/2025-26 rescinded the 2013 public notice that had limited certain leather exports to designated ports and required CLRI sampling and certification (Taxscan report on the DGFT notification).

For buyers, that means the exporter can choose the port that best suits your route, and shipments are no longer held for mandatory CLRI testing. You can still ask for independent laboratory tests, and you should, if your market sets chemical limits.

Which documents come with an export shipment of hides?

A complete export file lets your broker clear the hides without delays. Ask the exporter to confirm each document in the proforma invoice.

Commercial invoice showing the 8-digit ITC-HS code, processing stage (crust or finished) and Incoterm.
Packing list with the bundle count and the area of each hide in sq ft and m².
Bill of lading for sea freight, or air waybill for air shipments.
Certificate of origin, where your country requires it or a trade agreement with India applies.
Test reports your market needs, such as chromium VI to ISO 17075; see our chromium VI testing guide.
A copy of the supplier's current LWG certificate, if your brand requires LWG-sourced leather.

Which Incoterm and payment terms work best for hides from India?

Most first-time importers use FOB or CIF, and pay by telegraphic transfer (TT) in milestones or by letter of credit (LC). Choose the Incoterm by who you want to control freight and insurance.

Incoterm	Exporter's responsibility	Buyer's responsibility
EXW	Goods ready at the factory	Export clearance, inland haulage, freight, import
FOB	Export clearance and loading on your vessel at the Indian port	Ocean freight, insurance, import clearance
CIF	Export clearance, ocean freight and insurance to your port	Import clearance and onward delivery
DAP	Delivery to your named place, not unloaded	Import duty, taxes and clearance

Our guides to Incoterms for leather orders from India and TT, LC and D/P payment terms compare the options, and our shipping times guide covers sea and air transit.

What import duty will you pay at destination?

That depends entirely on your own customs tariff, not on India. For example, South Africa charges 0% or 10% on finished bovine leather depending on the hide size and whether it ships as whole hides or sides, as our South Africa finished leather import guide explains. Give your broker the exact HS code from the proforma invoice before you confirm the order.

How Sanwas International works with overseas hides buyers

Sanwas International is an LWG-certified OEM and private label leather manufacturer based in Jalandhar, Punjab, India, producing footwear, outerwear, furniture leather and hides for brands in India and worldwide.

Our leather hides range covers cow, buffalo and goat hides in full-grain, nubuck, suede and vegetable-tanned finishes, graded Cutting 1, Cutting 2, BB and Reject, in Super, Extra Heavy, Heavy and Medium weight classes, machine-cut or hand-cut, with custom colours. Every lot is AQL-inspected before dispatch, and we also supply buyers across India (see our pan-India hides guide). Compare us against our 10-point supplier checklist, review our certifications, then request an export quotation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there export duty on finished leather hides from India in 2026?

No. As of November 2026 finished leather and crust leather carry nil Indian export duty, while wet blue pays 20% and raw cattle hides 40%. Any duty you pay is your own country's import duty.

Which Indian port will my leather hides ship from?

Since DGFT Notification 15/2025-26 of 26 May 2025, finished, crust, wet blue and EI tanned leather can be exported from any Indian port. The port is agreed with your exporter in the quotation, based on your route and Incoterm.

I'm importing hides from India into the EU. Which test reports should I ask for?

Ask for chromium VI results to ISO 17075, plus any restricted-substance tests your brand or REACH compliance programme requires. Request the reports for the actual production lot, not only for a past sample.

Do I need an import licence or pre-shipment inspection to buy leather hides from India?

It depends on your country. Some markets run conformity or pre-shipment inspection programmes and some require importer registration, so check with your customs broker before the order ships. India itself no longer requires CLRI testing for finished or crust leather exports.

How should I pay for my first order of hides from an Indian exporter?

Most first orders use a TT deposit with the balance before shipment or against documents, or a letter of credit for extra security. Agree the milestones on the proforma invoice and approve a sample lot before paying the balance.

Importing Leather Hides from India? Request an Export Quote

Tanneries, finishers, footwear and furniture factories, distributors and traders abroad can send us the animal, finish, grade, weight class, quantity, destination port or country, preferred Incoterm and target shipment date. Sanwas International exports to Asia, Europe, North America, Africa and Australia, and supplies buyers across India.

Include these details in your enquiry: