Assomac has launched the 2026 “Assomac Around the World” programme, aimed at supporting the internationalisation pathways of Italian manufacturers of machinery and technologies for the tanning, footwear and leather goods industries.
Exports are an essential lever for the resilience of the Italian technology system and for enhancing its excellence, particularly amid geopolitical instability and rising competitive pressure in global markets.
“Italy maintains a significant presence among the world’s leading exporters, despite a context marked by international tensions and dynamics that have affected the value chain,” said Cristiano Paccagnella, Vice President of Assomac.
The 12.2 percent contraction in Italian exports (January– October 2025 compared to the previous year) reflects the difficulties of the current phase. At the same time, companies continue to demonstrate a strong international orientation, investing in market presence and participating in promotional initiatives in major global contexts.
In this scenario, the support of ITA - Italian Trade Agency is a central element in strengthening the visibility and international positioning of Made in Italy technologies.
For these efforts to be sustainable over time, it is equally important to rely on actions and resources that encourage exports and investment in machinery, thereby supporting companies' competitiveness in global markets.
Recent developments in the free trade agreement between the European Union and India represent a step in this direction.
India, with the 39th edition of IILF – India International Leather Fair, scheduled in Chennai, has opened the 2026 “Assomac Around the World” programme, which is aligned with the broader process of strengthening bilateral economic relations.
The event brought together operators and companies from around the world, underscoring its role as a key meeting point for production supply chains in Asia.
In the period January–October 2025, Italy ranked second after China among suppliers of leather processing machinery to India, with export values of EUR 12.48 million and a market share of 17.2 percent, despite a 14.7 percent decrease compared to the same period of the previous year.
Maintaining a presence in this market is essential to preserving positions in the country, the world’s second-largest footwear producer, which has a rapidly expanding leather industry and dynamic commercial interests.
The growth of India’s leather footwear segment is a structural trend, supported by export performance and by trade agreements that encourage market internationalisation.
The overall value of the leather sector is estimated at approximately EUR 19.6 billion in 2025, with a base of 2,100 companies (92 percent of which are concentrated in the main districts located in the states of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab). It is expected to expand to reach EUR 43.5 billion by 2030.
At the Italian National Pavilion in Chennai, promoted by the ITA - Italian Trade Agency, covering an area of 280 square metres, the Italian participation has received encouraging feedback.
Twenty-five Italian companies manufacturing technologies and machinery for the leather–footwear supply chain are present, 15 of which are Assomac members.
Overall, Italian technology is represented at the fair by more than 60 companies active in the country.
“Expectations are positive. The flow of qualified visitors, both from the tanning sector and from the footwear and leather goods segments, confirms the importance of continuing to maintain a presence in the Indian market,” said Agostino Apolito, General Director of Assomac.
“To compete with international players, a collective, coordinated and forward-looking vision is essential. Our business system cannot limit itself to isolated actions: this is the time to build alliances, shared commercial plans, investments in innovation and international networks.”
In 2026, the Association’s action to support the internationalisation of Italian manufacturers in the sector will continue in additional target markets, starting in March with APLF Leather in Hong Kong, followed by subsequent stages in Asia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
