Synthetic Leather Market By Type (Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polyurethane (PU), Bio-Based Synthetic Leather, Silicone-Based Synthetic Leather, Microfiber-Based Synthetic Leather), By Application (Footwear, Furnishings, Automotive Interiors, Clothing, Bags & Wallets, Sports Goods, Others), By Raw Material (Polyester, Nylon, Cotton, Polyurethane Resins, Polyvinyl Chloride Resins, Others), By End User (Consumer Goods, Automotive, Electronics, Construction, Commercial & Hospitality), Global Market Size, Segmental analysis, Regional Overview, Company share analysis, Leading Company Profiles And Market Forecast, 2025 – 2035

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What trends will shape Synthetic Leather Market in the coming years?

The Synthetic Leather Market accounted for USD 42.85 Billion in 2024 and USD 47.46 Billion in 2025 is expected to reach USD 131.88 Billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of around 10.76% between 2025 and 2035. The synthetic leather market is the industrial sector in the world that is concerned with the manufacturing and trading of synthetic leather products crafted out of fabric such as polyurethane (PU), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and others based on polymer alternatives. Unlike real leather, synthetic leather tries to copy the appearance and touch of real leather, but animal hides are not used. Various industries that depend on this material include the automotive industry, the fashion industry, the footwear industry, and the furniture industry because it is cheaper, can be used in differently diversified products, and does not have as much of an effect on the environment. The need to provide an alternative to synthetic products has been fuelled by the rising popularity of animal welfare and sustainability. Innovations in the market are advancing at an alarming rate, featuring bio-based and eco-synthetic leather.

What do industry experts say about the Synthetic Leather Market trends?

“Vegan leather is often a rebranding of ‘pleather,’ or plastic leather… The entire life cycle of this material has a very bad environmental impact.”

• Huantian Cao, Professor & Chair, Fashion and Apparel Studies, University of Delaware

“Faux leather… is inaccurate and vague… it lacks the durability, longevity, and compostability of traditional leather.”

• Jocelyn Whipple, Responsible Materials Specialist, The Right Project

Which segments and geographies does the report analyze?

What are the key drivers and challenges shaping the Synthetic Leather Market?

How does automotive growth stimulate synthetic leather global demand?

Premier automotive development is also a major contributor to the growth of synthetic leather in the world market because of the rising demand for synthetic leather as vehicle trimming in automobiles like seats, dashboards, and door trims. Due to the mounting manufacturing of vehicles all over the world, including the new emerging markets, there is also the expectation of a corresponding high demand for interior materials of great quality, economical to use, eco-friendly, and pleasing to the eye. The advantages of using synthetic leather are its resistance to abrasion, its ease of cleaning and maintenance, and the fact that it is friendly to the environment, unlike normal leather, and this fact makes it quite popular among manufacturers.

As stated by the U.S. Department of Energy, more than 90 million vehicles or more are manufactured annually across the world, and the markets, especially China and India, are growing yearly at a steady level, fuelling the growth of interior materials. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the output of the automotive industry is closely linked to the soaring of input materials, including their synthetic counterparts. The rise of the automotive industry, as well as the preference for high-quality but reasonably priced vehicles by their customers, increases the demand for synthetic leather globally.

Why do fashion preferences increasingly favor synthetic leather products?

Synthetic leather products are becoming more and more popular due to the combination of ethical, economic, and environmental considerations. The synthetic leather is cruelty-free, providing an alternative to animal leather because of increased consumer sensitivity to animal exploitation and sustainability. It is relatively cheap and flexible, as it enables the designers to bring more variety and novelty to the textures and colours. Due to the advancement in technology, the quality and durability of synthetic leather have been enhanced such that the appearance and performance of the synthetic copy are identical to traditional leather.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) noted that the process of synthetically derived leather usually takes less of an environmental toll on water usage and greenhouse gases than branded leather, which entails high-intensity farming of animals. Institutions like the World Wildlife Fund stress that synthetics eliminate an added burden on endangered animal species and contribute to the decrease in the rates of deforestation associated with cattle ranching. A combination of these factors contributes to the subsequent shift of the fashion industry towards the production of synthetic leather products that are part of the overall trend of sustainable and ethical consumerism.

Does low durability compared to natural leather impact customer satisfaction?

Customer satisfaction in the synthetic leather industry will be impacted by certain factors, such as low durability when compared to natural leather. Faux leather, which in most cases can be composed of polyurethane or PVC, wears out quicker, and the material develops signs of cracking, peeling, and even fading. In a study carried out by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on the performance of natural versus synthetic materials, synthetic materials are generally less durable, as they have low tensile strength and poor abrasion resistance. Such a lack of durability may cause declining consumer trust and a greater rate of product replacement, which has a detrimental impact on global satisfaction.

Further, a report from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) sheds light on the fact that natural leather-produced products retain their aesthetic values and useful dependencies for a longer duration after being subjected directly to normal utilisation sessions. Therefore, the attractiveness of natural leather to the customers, rated in terms of long product life, puts durability as a big drawback in terms of synthetic leather under competitive environments.

Can biotechnology innovations create advanced synthetic leather alternatives?

Biotechnology is simplifying the production of the most sophisticated alternatives in the form of synthetic leather that are more renewable and earth-friendly. Plants, agricultural waste options, and agricultural waste material-based research institutions, such as the CSIR-National Institute of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), have established that plant materials could be transformed into a long-lasting and affordable synthetic leather, which would significantly replace animal hide and normal plastic materials.

NIIST furthers that the tensile strength, water resistance, and increased shelf life are some of the enhanced properties of these bio-fabricated leathers, and these leathers can be used in different industries. Moreover, such pharmaceutical tools as the 2011 Leather Technology Mission in India actively encourage the use of biotechnological advances to curb the carbon footprint of the leather business with the added advantage of increasing export volumes and creating new job positions.

These developments are part of the global sustainability agenda and offer a promising substitute in the synthetic leather industry since they use significantly fewer chemicals, up to 50%, as shown in studies released by Indian science organisations. Such innovations not only resolve the problems in the environment but also provide economic advantages that will lead to greener production.

Are sportswear applications opening new market channels for manufacturers?

Sportswear applications are indeed presenting new market openings to synthetic leather manufacturers. The increasing demand in the sportswear market for high-performance, long-lasting, and sustainable materials provides a good reason why synthetic leather can be seen as an alternative to the venation type of leather because of its lightweight characteristics, superior flexibility, and ability to resist water. The reason behind this changing trend is the rising level of consumer awareness on animal welfare and environmental-related issues, and the increasing global trend towards fitness.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has also indicated that the size of the global sportswear market has exceeded $180 billion in the past years and shall continue to increase, and this presents enormous opportunities for new innovative materials such as synthetic leathers. Further, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed synthetic leather as more friendly to the environment than traditional leather, pushing more manufacturers to implement it. Therefore, suppliers of synthetic leather are using these growing sportswear demands as an opportunity to enter new markets and satisfy the changing consumer demands.

What are the key market segments in the Synthetic Leather industry?

Based on the type, the Synthetic Leather Market has been classified into Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polyurethane (PU), Bio-Based Synthetic Leather, Silicone-Based Synthetic Leather, and Microfiber-Based Synthetic Leather. The most noticeable and dominant type of synthetic leather in the market is Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). The popularity of PVC synthetic leather is based on its low pricing, its resistance to wear and water, and its use in finishing fashion, upholstery, and even automobiles. Its low cost of manufacturing and resemblance to the outlook of natural leather make it extremely favourable to businesses and customers. Moreover, the progressive enhancement of the environmentally friendly formulations favours PVC to retain the lead position on the market even under the pressure of increased environmental awareness.

Based on the application, the Synthetic Leather Market has been classified into Footwear, Furnishings, Automotive Interiors, Clothing, Bags & Wallets, Sports Goods, and Others. The footwear segment is the most distinct and superior application in the man-made leather market. Footwear. There is considerable use of synthetic leather in footwear because it is cheaper, stronger, and flexible in design, which enables the manufacturers to make various kinds of fashion, like casual shoes and athletic shoes. It has some added features, such as water resistance and maintenance, that are highly valued by consumers. It is also evidenced in the fact that increasing numbers of people want vegan and cruelty-free products, thus making synthetic leather more popular in this market, which is why footwear is the greatest market growth driver.

Which regions are leading the Synthetic Leather Market, and why?

The North American synthetic leather market is leading because of the well-developed production base, the consumption of high-quality consumer products, and the well-established automobile and garment industries. Diversification has also led to using synthetic material made of leather that is used in shoes, furniture, and automobile upholstery due to the effect that the sustainability of the region has had. Additional development of synthetic leather of high quality and environmental soundness, with the same technological development, has led to a further market expansion.

Synthetic leather is being incorporated by major brands and OEMs in the United States and Canada as a part of compliance with environmental control and the shift in consumer tastes. Further, a well-developed supply chain and rising investment in research and development also provide the market leadership of North America. The existence of both the huge environmentally sensitive consumer segment and the huge market encourages the change towards cruelty-free and vegan materials. Moreover, the trade policies and innovation-based partnerships are friendly, which offer the North American companies a competitive advantage in the global synthetic leather market.

The Asia Pacific synthetic leather market is dominant because its manufacturing infrastructure is strong, it has a big consumer base, and labour is cheap. Other major consumers of synthetic leather are governments and industries, as expressed by countries such as China, India, South Korea, and Japan, which are producers and distributors of automobiles, footwear, and similar products. The area has been experiencing high urbanisation, an increase in income after consumption, and a change of preferences among consumers relating to the avoidance of cruelty to animals and the use of sustainable materials.

The better government policy due to the interest they take in industrial growth and foreign investments is also another factor that increases production capacities. Availability of well-set supply chains and rising sensitivity towards environmental protection issues further causes the high use of synthetic alternatives instead of conventional leather. The availability of technological innovations in materials made of polymer and new product innovations has also spurred faster market growth. The availability of raw materials in the area is one of the most important factors that make its production competitive worldwide.

What does the competitive landscape of the Synthetic Leather Market look like?

The specialty chemicals and advanced materials market may be described as highly competitive with significant participation by Kuraray Co., Ltd., Teijin Limited, Toray Industries, Inc., Asahi Kasei Corporation, and Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, among others. The companies are constantly researching and investing in their developments to be more innovative and improve on their product lines, counting on sustainability and high-performance materials. In the recent past, it has made strategic tie-ups and increased production capacities to meet a higher demand in various sectors such as automotive, electronics, and healthcare.

For instance, Mitsubishi Chemical has recently increased its carbon fibre manufacturing capacity, whereas Toray Industries has launched environment-friendly materials in the direction of the achievement of vague notions of a circular economy. Technological changes, the rising importance of environmentally sound solutions, and the rising demand for lightweight and durable materials in the different end-use applications are behind the competitive dynamics.

Synthetic Leather Market, Company Shares Analysis, 2024

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Which recent mergers, acquisitions, or product launches are shaping the Synthetic Leather industry?

• In July 2025, Tapestry Inc., the parent company of Coach and Kate Spade, increased its stake to 9.9% in recycled-leather innovator Gen Phoenix through a $15 million financing round. They also signed a three-year supply agreement to continue using Gen Phoenix’s recycled fiber in Coach products aimed at consumers focused on sustainability.
• In May 2025, a pioneering research collaboration between Newcastle University, The Organoid Company, VML, and Lab-Grown Leather Ltd. announced plans to mass-produce lab-grown leather made from synthetic T. rex collagen. They aimed to use this innovative material for luxury handbags by the end of the year—a breakthrough combining biotech and fashion, although it faced scientific skepticism.

Report Coverage:

By Type

• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
• Polyurethane (PU)
• Bio-Based Synthetic Leather
• Silicone-Based Synthetic Leather
• Microfiber-Based Synthetic Leather

By Application

• Footwear
• Furnishings
• Automotive Interiors
• Clothing
• Bags & Wallets
• Sports Goods
• Others

By Raw Material

• Polyester
• Nylon
• Cotton
• Polyurethane Resins
• Polyvinyl Chloride Resins
• Others

By End User

• Consumer Goods
• Automotive
• Electronics
• Construction
• Commercial & Hospitality

By Region

North America

• U.S.
• Canada

Europe

• U.K.
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Spain
• Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

• China
• Japan
• India
• Australia
• South Korea
• Singapore
• Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

• Brazil
• Argentina
• Mexico
• Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

• GCC Countries
• South Africa
• Rest of Middle East & Africa

List of Companies:

• Kuraray Co., Ltd.
• Teijin Limited
• Toray Industries, Inc.
• Asahi Kasei Corporation
• Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
• San Fang Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
• Nan Ya Plastics Corporation
• Alfatex N.V.
• Yantai Wanhua Synthetic Leather Group Co., Ltd.
• Zhejiang Hexin Industry Group Co., Ltd.
• Anhui Anli Material Technology Co., Ltd.
• Fujian Polytech Technology Corp., Ltd.
• Mayur Uniquoters Limited
• H.R. Polycoats Pvt. Ltd.
• Covestro AG

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