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Leather & footwear

Export saddlery and harness

Kanpur-made saddles, bridles and pet accessories; the USA, Germany, the UK and the Netherlands buy most.

Free to exportHS 4201
HS code
4201
Saddlery and harness for any animal, of any material: saddles, bridles, reins, girths, saddle cloths, dog collars and leads (HS 4201).
Export policy
Free to export
Free to export under ITC(HS) Schedule 2. Confirm the exact 8-digit line on the DGFT ITC(HS) search before shipping.
Registrations
3
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 220 mn
to 74 countries

What is exported

Kanpur is India's saddlery centre, making saddles, bridles, headcollars and harness for equestrian brands, along with leather and nylon pet accessories. In 2025-26 India exported about US$ 220 million under HS 4201; the USA led, followed by Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Australia (Commerce Department data).

Varieties, grades and forms

  • SaddlesEnglish and western saddles, mostly leather on wooden or synthetic trees.
  • Bridles, headcollars and reinsLeather and webbing tack for riding and stable use.
  • Harness for driving and working horsesLeather or synthetic harness sets.
  • Girths, stirrup leathers and saddle padsSaddle cloths and pads are often textile.
  • Dog collars, leads and pet harnessLeather and nylon pet accessories, also under HS 4201.

Where it is grown or made

  • Uttar PradeshKanpur — India's saddlery centre (Kanpur Saddlery GI)
  • Tamil NaduChennai and Ranipet — tack and pet accessories
  • West BengalKolkata — pet accessories and harness

Export packing

  • Saddles go one per carton on a saddle form or with stuffing to protect the tree and panels; bridles and small tack are bagged and tagged.
  • Use silica gel and avoid sealing oiled leather in airtight bags — it sweats and moulds.
  • Mark cartons with the buyer's article number, size (pony, cob, full) and colour.

Who buys abroad

  • Equestrian brands and tack wholesalers
  • Riding-shop chains and online equestrian stores
  • Pet-product brands and chains

The quality buyers ask for

Leather
Vegetable-tanned or combination-tanned bridle leather, thickness stated in mm; oiled and waxed finish
Hardware
Stainless steel or solid brass buckles and rings; breaking-strength tests on load-bearing parts
Stitching
Stitches per inch, waxed thread and edge finishing as per the approved sample
Sizes
Pony, cob, full and extra-full for bridles; saddle seat size and tree width
Restricted substances
Cr VI limits apply to leather that touches human skin (reins, gloves); nickel release from hardware in the EU

Certificates

  • Chemical test reportOften askedAsked for by EU brands for leather parts handled by riders.
  • Social compliance audit (amfori BSCI, SMETA or SA8000)RequiredMost retailers and brands require it for the factory.
  • Leather Working Group (LWG)Often askedSome brands prefer leather from LWG-rated tanneries.
  • ISO 9001Often askedQuality management system; expected by most industrial buyers.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

Cartons by volume; LCL is common for first orders, then 20-ft containers.

How it travels

Sea from Nhava Sheva, Mundra or ICD Kanpur; air for samples and small repeat orders.

Storage

Dry and ventilated; oiled leather sweats in sealed bags.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Buyer brand tags, article number and size.
  • Country of origin ('Made in India') on the product or its packing, as the buyer's customs require.
  • Material description: "leather" only for real leather; state synthetic materials clearly.
Where to get it tested

CLRI, Chennai and its Kanpur regional centre test leather; FDDI labs test leather articles. For hardware breaking-strength and nickel tests, search the NABL directory.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

Quality and checks

  • Buyers check leather quality, stitching and the breaking strength of buckles and fittings.
  • EU buyers may ask for chromium VI tests on leather handled by riders and nickel-release tests on hardware.
  • Wooden saddle trees and wooden packing must meet ISPM 15 if solid wood is used in packing.
How to start small

Begin with bridles, headcollars or leather dog collars, which need less capital than saddles. Join CLE, build a sample range and meet equestrian brands at spoga horse or BETA International.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Leather that cracks or bleeds colour in the rain.
  • Missing the riding season — late deliveries are often cancelled.
  • Weak hardware that fails strength checks.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (5)
  1. Department of Commerce, Export Import Data Bank — India's exports of HS 4201 by country, 2025-26
  2. DGFT — Appendix 2T: Export Promotion Councils and the products under each
  3. DGFT — ITC(HS) export policy search (Schedule 2)
  4. CLE (Council for Leather Exports) — official site
  5. IP India (Geographical Indications Registry) — Registration details of Geographical Indications

Trade data

Indian saddlery and harness exports in numbers

From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, Indian financial years (April–March).

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 220 mn
+3.4% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↑ +7.3%
US$ 205 mn → US$ 220 mn
Buyer countries
74
Average export price
US$ 12.08
per kg · 18,247 tonnes shipped · US$ 12.11 the year before
United States of America: US$ 49.1 mnGermany: US$ 41.8 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 32.1 mnNetherlands: US$ 31.3 mnAustralia: US$ 11.6 mnFrance: US$ 7.8 mnSweden: US$ 7.1 mnItaly: US$ 5.3 mnBelgium: US$ 5.1 mnCanada: US$ 3.7 mnDenmark: US$ 3.6 mnSpain: US$ 3.5 mnIreland: US$ 2.5 mnNew Zealand: US$ 2.1 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 1.9 mnIsrael: US$ 1.3 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 990kPoland: US$ 880kSouth Africa: US$ 800kChina: US$ 730kRussia: US$ 440kCzechia: US$ 300kUnited States of America: US$ 49.1 mnUnited States of AmericaGermany: US$ 41.8 mnGermanyUnited Kingdom: US$ 32.1 mnNetherlands: US$ 31.3 mnAustralia: US$ 11.6 mnAustraliaFrance: US$ 7.8 mnSweden: US$ 7.1 mnItaly: US$ 5.3 mnItalyBelgium: US$ 5.1 mnCanada: US$ 3.7 mnDenmark: US$ 3.6 mnSpain: US$ 3.5 mnIreland: US$ 2.5 mnNew Zealand: US$ 2.1 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 1.9 mnUnited Arab EmiratesIsrael: US$ 1.3 mnIsraelSaudi Arabia: US$ 990kPoland: US$ 880kSouth Africa: US$ 800kChina: US$ 730kRussia: US$ 440kCzechia: US$ 300kIndia
Where Indian saddlery and harness goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 186 mn1862020-212021-22: US$ 276 mn2762021-222022-23: US$ 222 mn2222022-232023-24: US$ 182 mn1822023-242024-25: US$ 205 mn2052024-252025-26: US$ 220 mn2202025-26
India’s saddlery and harness exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2020-21, lowest in 2025-26 — a 39% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 16.83 per kg16.832021-22: US$ 12.23 per kg2022-23: US$ 12.09 per kg2024-25: US$ 12.11 per kg2025-26: US$ 12.08 per kg12.082020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian saddlery and harness · US$ per kg · dotted = year in between not available

What next: a projection from the trend

The past trend carried forward — not a forecast by any authority. Sudden changes in policy, prices or demand are not in it.

2020-21: US$ 186 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 276 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 222 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 182 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 205 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 220 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 208 mn (US$ 166 mn – US$ 262 mn)2082026-272027-28: US$ 207 mn (US$ 160 mn – US$ 267 mn)2072027-28
India’s saddlery and harness exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 207 mn

Likely range US$ 160 mn to US$ 267 mn.

Trend
-0.7% a year
Fit (R²)
0.01 — weak, read with care
Based on
6 years of official figures

Method: a straight line through the logarithm of yearly exports (log-linear regression); range = ±1 standard error.

Biggest buyer countries

By value in 2025-26. Change is against 2024-25.

Name2025-26Change
1United States of AmericaUS$ 49.1 mn-4.7%
2GermanyUS$ 41.8 mn+13.7%
3United KingdomUS$ 32.1 mn+11.8%
4NetherlandsUS$ 31.3 mn+11.5%
5AustraliaUS$ 11.6 mn+22.8%
6FranceUS$ 7.8 mn-15.4%
7SwedenUS$ 7.1 mn+6.4%
8ItalyUS$ 5.3 mn+5.4%
9BelgiumUS$ 5.1 mn+4.7%
10CanadaUS$ 3.7 mn+18.1%
11DenmarkUS$ 3.6 mn+17%
12SpainUS$ 3.5 mn+5.4%

Where demand is rising and falling

Only countries that buy at least US$ 1 million or 1% of India’s exports of this product. Change from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

High demand

  1. IrelandUS$ 2 mn → US$ 2.5 mn+28.9%
  2. AustraliaUS$ 9.4 mn → US$ 11.6 mn+22.8%
  3. CanadaUS$ 3.2 mn → US$ 3.7 mn+18.1%
  4. DenmarkUS$ 3.1 mn → US$ 3.6 mn+17%
  5. GermanyUS$ 36.7 mn → US$ 41.8 mn+13.7%
  6. United KingdomUS$ 28.7 mn → US$ 32.1 mn+11.8%
  7. NetherlandsUS$ 28.1 mn → US$ 31.3 mn+11.5%

Low demand

  1. FranceUS$ 9.2 mn → US$ 7.8 mn-15.4%

Which forms sell, and at what price

India’s exports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity (TradeStat): the average of every shipment on that line, not the price of any one deal.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Sddlry and hrnss for any anml (including tractsleads,knee pads,muzls, sddle cloths,sddle bags-dog coats and the like)of4201 00 00 · Saddlery and harness, for any animal, of any materialsUS$ 220 mn+7.3%18,247 tonnesUS$ 12.08 per kgwas US$ 12.11

The world market

Each country’s own recorded exports and imports in UN Comtrade, 2023 (the latest year nearly every country has reported).

World imports
US$ 2.03 bn
2023
India among exporters
#3
of 118 countries
India’s share of world exports
7.2%
US$ 180 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 2.34 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 1.18 bn 46.9%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 194 mn 7.7%
  3. 3IndiaUS$ 180 mn 7.2%
  4. 4NetherlandsUS$ 121 mn 4.8%
  5. 5ItalyUS$ 92 mn 3.7%
  6. 6FranceUS$ 90.2 mn 3.6%
  7. 7USAUS$ 70.9 mn 2.8%
  8. 8Viet NamUS$ 70 mn 2.8%
  9. 9United KingdomUS$ 51.3 mn 2%
  10. 10PolandUS$ 47.5 mn 1.9%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 578 mn 28.5%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 194 mn 9.6%
  3. 3NetherlandsUS$ 136 mn 6.7%
  4. 4United KingdomUS$ 136 mn 6.7%
  5. 5FranceUS$ 111 mn 5.4%
  6. 6CanadaUS$ 93.8 mn 4.6%
  7. 7AustraliaUS$ 63.8 mn 3.1%
  8. 8JapanUS$ 63.7 mn 3.1%
  9. 9ItalyUS$ 43.1 mn 2.1%
  10. 10SpainUS$ 41.8 mn 2.1%

Opportunity: what these countries buy from the world, and from India

Each country’s own recorded imports in UN Comtrade, latest year it has reported. The long light part of each bar is demand other countries are filling today.

United States of AmericaUS$ 591 mnIndia 9.6% · gap US$ 534 mn
GermanyUS$ 204 mnIndia 18.4% · gap US$ 167 mn
NetherlandsUS$ 142 mnIndia 15.4% · gap US$ 120 mn
United KingdomUS$ 136 mnIndia 20.1% · gap US$ 108 mn
FranceUS$ 102 mnIndia 16% · gap US$ 85.9 mn
CanadaUS$ 85.3 mnIndia 7.8% · gap US$ 78.6 mn
JapanUS$ 63.9 mnIndia 1% · gap US$ 63.3 mn
AustraliaUS$ 63.8 mnIndia 17.2% · gap US$ 52.9 mn
SpainUS$ 42.7 mnIndia 8.4% · gap US$ 39.1 mn
ItalyUS$ 42.1 mnIndia 12.5% · gap US$ 36.8 mn

TradeStat’s 2023-24 quantities are double-counted, so that year is left out of the price. Sources: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · UN Comtrade database (United Nations Statistics Division) · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

Step by step

How to export saddlery and harness

India, led by Kanpur, is one of the world's main suppliers of saddlery and tack, competing with China, Pakistan and makers in Europe. The main buyers are equestrian brands and wholesalers in the USA, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Australia, where riding is a large leisure market. Buyers value good leather, consistent stitching and reliable delivery more than the lowest price. Openings are in bridles, headcollars and leather accessories for mid-price brands, synthetic tack, and leather pet accessories.

  1. 01Choose your range

    Start with bridles, headcollars or pet accessories rather than full saddles.

  2. 02Register with CLE

    CLE covers harness and saddlery; take its RCMC.

  3. 03Source leather and hardware

    Use bridle leather and tested hardware; keep supplier certificates.

  4. 04Make samples

    Send samples in each size; agree finish and colour in writing.

  5. 05Produce and inspect

    Check stitching, edge finish and hardware strength; AQL final inspection.

  6. 06Ship and claim benefits

    File the shipping bill on ICEGATE with the correct 8-digit HS code, declare RoDTEP and drawback, and keep the mill or test certificates with the export file.

  7. 07Get paid safely

    Use an LC or documents against payment with new buyers, take ECGC cover for open-account sales, and close the export with an e-BRC once the money arrives.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting saddlery and harness

Are dog collars saddlery?
Yes. HS 4201 covers saddlery and harness for any animal, including dog collars, leads and coats, of any material.
Is Kanpur saddlery protected?
Yes, "Kanpur Saddlery" is a registered Geographical Indication. Registered authorised users can use the name.
Why is drawback capped per piece?
The cap limits the refund on high-priced items. Leather harness gets 5.5% of FOB but not more than ₹134.4 per piece.
What do buyers complain about most?
Colour variation, leather that cracks or bleeds dye, weak hardware and late delivery for the riding season.
Should I make synthetic tack too?
Many buyers want both. Synthetic tack is cheaper and easy to wash, but it gets a lower drawback rate (1.1%).
Sources (6)
  1. CLE (Council for Leather Exports) — official site
  2. IP India (Geographical Indications Registry) — Registration details of Geographical Indications
  3. Gazette of India — Notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.) dated 20.10.2023: All Industry Rates of duty drawback
  4. ECHA — substances restricted under REACH (Annex XVII)
  5. CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Chennai
  6. NABL — search for accredited testing laboratories

Who buys Indian saddlery and harness

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