Since the 1970s, the leather and leather products industry has played an ever increasing role in Turkey's economy.

The leather industry is among the leading export sectors of Turkey. Its annual export value is more than 600 million US Dollars. In addition to this, an amount almost more than half of Turkey's officially recorded leather exports comes from sales in the tourism sector.  In Turkey’s exports the sector’s share was % 2.5, but if the sales in tourism sector is accounted it reaches nearly to % 10.

Initial efforts to modernise the leather industry began in the 70s but significant progress on a real industrial scale only began in the mid-80s. The sector has developed very fast in the last years. The number of organised leather industry zones has increased and waste water treatment plants of most of these zones have been completed. Technological advancement is growing rapidly and the Turkish leather sector has come to a point that it exports technology. Leather manufacturers are mainly located in İstanbul(Tuzla), İzmir(Menemen), Çorlu, Uşak, Denizli, Gerede, Bursa, Gönen, Manisa, Bor and Kula.

            Today annual leather processing capacity of the industry is 400 000 tonnes. Sector is the 10th biggest industry in Turkey and its share in manufacturing industry is % 2. As the production methods are being converted into modern techniques, the Turkish leather industry ranks second after Italy throughout the world in the leather processing field.

Total exports of the leather and footwear industry were $661.1 million in 1998. Leather goods, footwear and accessories accounted for 33.6% of the total leather exports. The share of leather garments was 43.7 % in the total exports.

The Turkish leather garments industry is in a strong position to export high quality products and the manufacturing companies are following the latest fashions in the world. In 1998, leather garments exports were $289.6 million. The majority of these garments directed to Germany (43%) and the Russian Federation  (10.8%). Other major markets for Turkish leather exports are France, Romania, the USA, Belgium, Austria, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Switzerland.

Turkish footwear exports have increased in recent years. Starting with $1.2 million in 1981, Turkish footwear exports have reached $186.4 million in 1998. Footwear with uppers of leather, with an export value of 93.7 million $ in 1998, is accounted for % 50 of the total footwear exports. The main markets for leather footwear exports are the Russian Federation, Germany, Poland, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and France, Bulgaria, Jordan.

Turkey has one of the worlds most advanced leather saddlery industries and its products are famous for their excellent materials, their superior styling, distinctive use of colour and their perfect finish. Turkish saddlery exports reached $36.1 million in 1998.

Turkey exhibits its unique collections, capacity and products in 9 major leather and footwear fairs organised in the country, mainly in İstanbul and İzmir.