South of the Sahara

摘要

Africa is huge and, in terms of leather and footwear manufacture, diverse. North Africa has a well-established industry, particularly in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, where French companies have operated for many years. Egypt also has a sizeable industry and one that has greatly improved under the government's new industrial policy. South Africa has an old leather industry, now largely focused on the automotive sector, but its footwear sector has declined due to cheap imports. Nigeria has good quality small skins and has also been a sizeable producer of footwear, but the commercial problems involved in dealing with the country have deterred all but the bravest of buyers. This feature, however, focuses on a much broader region—sub-Sahara, the area that picks up countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya and further south to the borders of South Africa. It has seen considerable changes in its leather-based industries in the past few years and is the area seen as having the long-term potential due to its raw material resources.