Kanpur: The city’s leather industry is closely monitoring the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, apprehending possible repercussions on exports and trade if the situation escalates.Mukhtarul Amin, former chairman of the Council for Leather Exports (CLE) and chairman and managing director of Super House Group, said it was too early to assess the full impact of the war. “The industry is watching the situation minutely since the war commenced on Saturday. It is too early to make any comment,” Amin said when asked whether the conflict would affect leather trade.He, however, acknowledged that uncertainty had emerged due to the war. “Everybody knows that war makes its impact on all types of business and industry,” he added.Popularly known as the “Leather City”, Kanpur contributes significantly to India’s export market. The Kanpur–Unnao leather cluster forms a major part of Uttar Pradesh’s Rs 200 billion leather industry. Nearly half of its production is exported, with the Middle East emerging as a major and growing destination alongside the US and Europe. Industry leaders pointed out that the Gulf countries account for a substantial share of Kanpur’s leather exports. If the conflict prolongs, it could disrupt trade flows and affect the sector’s performance.Asad Iraqi, chairman of the Regional Leather Export Council, said that Kanpur’s leather exports to Gulf countries account for around 5 per cent of the country’s total leather exports. “If the war stretches, the industry would suffer,” he said.He said the situation could take a different turn if the European Union becomes involved in the conflict. “It is too early to make any comment. The industry is watching the developments and will act accordingly,” Iraqi said.
