What it is
Salted or dried hides of buffalo and cattle and skins of goat and sheep, collected from slaughterhouses and fallen animals. Tanneries turn them into leather.
Buffalo and cow hides; goat and sheep skinsWet-salted, dry-salted and frozenGraded by size, weight and grain defects
Where imports come from
Small. India imported raw bovine hides worth US$ 19.10 million in 2025-26; tanneries rely mainly on domestic hides.
- Argentina — US$ 3.17 million of imports under HS 4101 in 2025-26.
- United States — US$ 2.76 million of imports under HS 4101 in 2025-26.
- Saudi Arabia — US$ 2.39 million of imports under HS 4101 in 2025-26.
- New Zealand — US$ 1.29 million of imports under HS 4103 in 2025-26.
Storage and handling
Salt hides within hours of flaying and keep them in a cool, shaded store; unsalted hides putrefy fast.
Businesses that use it
Finished Shoe-Upper Leather Tannery →Nubuck Leather (Cow Hide Tannery) →Suede Leather Tanning Unit →Belting Leather Tanning Unit →Upholstery Leather Tanning Unit →