TexPro Bi-Weekly - U.S. Hides, Latin America’s Water Costs, China’s Footwear, and Italy’s Technical Textiles

Introduction

The global textile, apparel, and related commodity markets continue to face turbulence driven by shifting demand, pricing volatility, and evolving consumer preferences. From raw materials like hides to essential inputs like water, and from mass-market footwear to advanced industrial textiles, the past year has underscored the interconnected pressures shaping sourcing and trade.

This week’s TexPro Insights examine four critical areas: diverging trends in the U.S. hide market, China’s decade-long footwear export journey, Italy’s steady gains in industrial textiles, and Cotton production trends in West Asia. Each case highlights the structural imbalances, opportunities, and challenges that stakeholders must navigate.

Key Takeaways

• U.S. hide prices reveal divergence: packer hides are weakening while cowhides hold steady.

• China’s footwear exports peaked in 2022 but are now trending back toward pre-pandemic levels.

• Italy’s industrial textiles reached record exports in 2024 before stabilizing in 2025, reinforcing long-term resilience.

• Turkey’s cotton production is climbing, while Uzbekistan’s continues to fall, reflecting differing strategies and policies.

1. U.S. Hide Market – Diverging Trends

Over the past year, the U.S. hide market has split into two distinct trajectories. Packer hides, led by Heavy Texas Steers and Branded Heifers, began last fall above $23 per piece but dropped sharply in spring 2025 to $13–14. This correction is closely tied to weak demand from the footwear leather sector, which has struggled to recover momentum.

Cowhides, however, have shown resilience. Heavy Native and Dairy Cow selections averaged $10–12 for most of the year, while Spready Dairy Cows climbed from $12.75 to $16, supported by consistent upholstery and automotive demand. Branded Cows faced sharper declines, falling to $6 before a modest rebound. The net effect has been a shrinking gap between packer hides and cowhides, with premiums narrowing sharply compared to a year ago.

2. China’s Footwear Exports (2014–2025)

China’s footwear industry remains the global leader, but the export trend over the past decade has been uneven. Between 2014 and 2019, exports fell from $56.26 billion to $47.80 billion, reflecting market saturation and shifting sourcing. The COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 exacerbated this decline, causing exports to hit a decade low of $38.11 billion.

A strong rebound followed in 2021–2022, with exports peaking at $62.22 billion. However, this recovery was short-lived. By 2023, exports slipped to $54.18 billion, falling further to $51.09 billion in 2024. Projections for 2025 suggest another decline to $45.00 billion, signaling structural challenges as global sourcing diversifies and consumer demand evolves.

3. Italy’s Industrial Textile Exports (2021–2025)

Italy’s industrial textile sector has steadily strengthened in recent years, showcasing both resilience and adaptability. Exports rose from $500 million in early 2021 to $520 million in 2022 and $540 million in 2023. This upward momentum was fueled by Italy’s expertise in technical textiles for automotive, filtration, and medical applications, backed by a strong reputation for quality and innovation.

In 2024, Italy reached a peak of $555 million, securing its position as the world’s fourth-largest exporter in this category. However, 2025 saw a slight dip to $540 million, indicating stabilization amid global trade uncertainties. Despite this pullback, Italy’s industrial textiles remain robust, driven by smart textile innovation, sustainability initiatives, and diversification into non-EU markets.

4. Cotton Production Trends in West Asia: Turkey vs. Uzbekistan

Turkey and Uzbekistan have taken diverging paths in cotton production over the past seven years. Turkey’s output, though fluctuating year to year, has followed an upward trajectory—rising from 806 thousand tonnes in 2018 to 860 thousand tonnes in 2024, with a peak of 1,067 thousand tonnes in 2022. This reflects Turkey’s emphasis on cotton as a strategic agricultural and industrial input, bolstered by global demand for natural fibers and domestic investment in sustainable crop management.

By contrast, Uzbekistan’s cotton sector has seen an overall decline, falling from 713 thousand tonnes in 2018 to 653 thousand tonnes in 2024. This contraction stems from deliberate policy reforms to reduce reliance on cotton monoculture and diversify agriculture. Higher input costs—especially fertilizers and seeds—have also reduced cultivation areas. Together, these shifts underscore how trade, policy, and environmental pressures are reshaping cotton’s role in West Asia’s economic and industrial future.

Conclusion

From hides to cotton, footwear to technical textiles, global trade signals are far from uniform. The U.S. hide market is splitting between categories, Turkey and Uzbekistan’s cotton sectors are heading in opposite directions, China’s footwear exports are retreating after a post-pandemic peak, and Italy’s industrial textiles are consolidating after strong growth.

Together, these stories highlight how policy choices, consumer shifts, and structural imbalances are redefining commodity and textile markets. For stakeholders, the challenge lies in anticipating these divergent trends and adapting sourcing and investment strategies accordingly. TexPro provides the intelligence needed to stay ahead in a volatile environment.

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