Abstract Leather and leather products are economically important sectors of developing countries in the field of light industry, which includes a wide range of industrial destination products and consumer items. This review analyzed statistical data on the current state of leather production, such as the share of light industry products in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the domestic raw material base, cattle skins, exports of small cattle skins to foreign countries, the production of leather products, measures to support the leather industry by the state, and discussed the problems and indicators of the industry’s development. The role of state support and the potential to increase the competitiveness of Kazakhstan’s products, as well as the possibility of contributing to the sustainable growth of the leather industry in the future, were also considered. In the context of long-established traditions, a review of leather production was conducted, and attention was paid to the importance of the leather industry for Kazakhstan, taking into account the existing shortcomings. In conclusion, the necessity of a comprehensive approach to solving these problems is emphasized, including the implementation of environmentally friendly technologies, the improvement of specialist qualifications, and the development of both domestic and international markets for light industry products.
Sabyrkhanova et al. (2026) studied this question.