Leather Chemicals Market Analysis, Market Size, Application Analysis, Regional Outlook, Competitive Strategies And Forecasts, 2014 To 2020

Increasing premium leather products demand is projected to positively influence the global leather chemicals market over the forecast period. Leather chemicals are used at different stages of leather production. Growing premium leather products demand in major end-use industries such as furniture, footwear, garments and automotive interiors in emerging markets of China, India, Brazil and Mexico is expected to fuel the global leather chemicals market. Abundant leather chemical raw materials are presumed to have a positive impact on the global leather chemicals market over the next six years. Stringent regulations and policies concerning the harmful effects of leather chemicals, such as those set by REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical substances), are anticipated to hamper the global leather chemicals market growth. Chemicals such as chromium, which are used in the leather production process, have hazardous health effects such as respiratory disorders, kidney & liver damage, weakened immune systems and lung cancer. Over dependence on such harmful chemicals for leather production and inability to find their sustainable substitutes is expected to negatively influence the global market development. Growing leather substitute usage across multiple industries coupled with increasing leather production costs are slated to further challenge the market growth. R&D on developing substitute chemicals and eco friendly leather production solutions promise vast opportunities for the industry participants over the next six years. 

Emerging economies in Asia pacific such as China, Southeast Asia and India are expected to witness rapid leather chemicals market growth owing to increasing premium leather products demand. Rapid industrialization coupled with increasing disposable income in the emerging economies offer promising market growth prospects in the region. Brazil and Mexico offer promising market development opportunities in the near future. This is expected to have direct positive impact on Latin American leather chemicals market. Emerging markets are characterized by high tanning & dyeing chemicals demand, whereas finishing chemicals were prominent in developed economies. Italy dominated the European leather market over the last few years, and is expected to experience steady growth over the forecast period. 

Major companies operating in the global leather chemicals market include BASF, TFL, Clariant Corporation, Stahl Holdings B.V, Chemtan, Elementis, Zschimmer & Schwarz, Kemia Tau, Lanxess, TFL Ledertechnik Gmbh, Dystar Singapore Pte Ltd. and Schill+Seilacher Gmbh.