Crocodile Skin Exports Hit US$36 Million as Industry Eyes US$100 Million Target

Zimbabwe’s crocodile skin exports hit US$36 million as the industry targets US$100 million (image source)

Zimbabwe’s crocodile farming sector is riding a wave of growth after export receipts from crocodile skins rose to an average of US$36 million, driven by improved skin quality and expanding market access, industry and government officials say. Production now stands at about 80,000 skins annually, up from previous estimates, and the sector is being promoted as a strategic foreign-currency earner for rural communities and the national economy.

Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Davis Marapira told stakeholders that while crocodile meat contributes marginally — just over US$1 million in local consumption and exports — the primary focus remains on skins and value addition that can lift the industry to a projected US$100 million economy. He said government and private stakeholders are working to improve market penetration in top fashion and leather markets and to compete with established producers in the Americas and elsewhere.

Export markets currently include France, Singapore, Japan, and Italy, and producers are pursuing diversification into other high-value destinations to sustain demand for premium Niloticus skins. Zimbabwe is reported to control roughly 45 percent of the Niloticus skin market worldwide, a dominant position that industry leaders argue should be leveraged through downstream processing and stronger branding to capture greater portions of the leather value chain.

Producers and the Crocodile Farmers Association of Zimbabwe are seeking more support for capacity building, access to finance, and technical assistance to meet stringent international certification, traceability, and animal-welfare standards demanded by luxury leather buyers. Stakeholders say investments in better hatchery management, feeding regimes, and skin handling protocols have already translated into higher quality hides that attract premium prices on global markets.

Value addition remains central to the sector’s growth strategy. Industry players want domestic tanning, finishing, and product manufacturing so Zimbabwe can export finished leather goods rather than raw skins, retaining more value locally and creating jobs across rural processing hubs. The government has signalled support for such initiatives through policy engagement and partnerships, while private operators are exploring joint ventures with experienced international tanners.

Analysts caution that sustaining growth will require consistent regulatory oversight, improved biosecurity, and trade facilitation, along with strategies to insulate producers from volatile global demand for exotic leathers. They also note that ethical and conservation considerations must be maintained to ensure crocodile farming remains sustainable and compliant with CITES and other international rules.

With current momentum and a clear emphasis on quality and market development, Zimbabwe’s crocodile industry appears set to consolidate its lead in the Niloticus market and pursue its ambition of becoming a US$100 million sector through concerted value-addition and export diversification efforts.