Biratnagar, April 1:

The quantity of leather being exported to China over the last eight months of the current fiscal year from Nepal has been rated to be better than other countries.

Within this period, 16,79,213 square feet of leather worth of Rs 27.41 million has been exported to China, the commercial office situated at Biratnagar said.

Similarly, 6,63,753 sq ft of leather worth of Rs 5.34 million has been exported to Italy and 3,62,346 sq ft of leather worth of Rs 1.629 million has been exported to India.

A total of 35,92,376 sq ft of leather has been exported to different countries within the period of eight months of the current FY, the office informed.

Chief of the office, Lalit Shrestha said a total of Rs 620.4 million has been received from leather exports by mid-March of current FY 2005-06.

He added that export of leather to different countries is done only after the recommendation from commercial office.

Leather is exported mainly to China, Italy, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Germany and South Korea from Nepal, while last year leather was exported to even other countries like England, Sri Lanka, Iran, Mauritius, Thailand and Brazil.

The office added that only 11,137 sq ft of raw leather worth of Rs 480,000 has been supplied so far. Two different types of leather produced by leather industries in Morang and Sunsari including Universal Leather Pvt Ltd, Nepal Tanning Industries, Pioneer Industries, United Tanning Pvt Ltd and Asian Leather Pvt Ltd are being exported to different countries via different custom points with recommendations from the commercial office.

Export of leather to India has been affected after the Indian government added a 4 per cent additional customs duty on exports from Nepal, exporter Hasan Ansari said.