Local leather products manufacturers (shoes, belts, sandals, bags among others) have been relying on imported tanned hides and skins because there is not enough quantity and quality of them on the local market. Currently, there is one major factory in the country; Kigali Leather, which is also located in Bugesera District and it produces finished hides and skins. However, leather products manufacturers such as shoemakers who spoke to The New Times said that the local price of tanned hides and skins is higher and that there are no diversified tanned hides and skins which they need to produce quality leather products.
Rwanda imported tanned hides and skins worth $15.6 million in 2019 an increase from $13 million in 2018 mainly from Kenya, China, Ethiopia, UAE and Tanzania and this could stop once Tannery Park is established.
