When a specialized market decides after 33 years to stop waiting for customers to come, the energy it unleashes can reshape an entire region's export landscape. In July 2026, during the 33rd Haining China Leather City Expo, over 100 buyers from more than ten countries, including Russia, Brazil, and South Korea, flooded in—not by chance, but as the result of a comprehensive 'domestic-foreign trade integration' strategy now taking shape.
From Passive to Active: A Leather Hide's Export Roadmap
Haining Leather City's aggressive overseas moves in 2026 sketch a clear path for industrial expansion. In February, it first organized a group to attend an international garment exhibition in Russia, where fur, fur-lined leather, and goose-down jackets secured on-the-spot orders. In March, the Xinjiang Haining Leather City project was signed, followed by appearances at the Hong Kong International Fur and Fashion Fair. A memorandum of cooperation was signed with Azerbaijan's Gulf Group in April, the Brazil Sao Paulo showroom and overseas warehouse opened in May, and warehouses in South Korea and Egypt were launched in June. In July, the group exhibited at the London International Apparel and Textile Fair.
These moves are not random but part of the '1513' strategy. The core: build a hub in Urumqi, five overseas showrooms in Russia, UAE, South Korea, Egypt, and Brazil, and set up warehouses in countries with populations over 100 million. The Xinjiang project is key—leveraging Urumqi's status as a gateway to eight countries and Europe, it will open in September as a bridgehead to Central Asia.
For the industrial cluster, the implication is clear: Haining Leather City is shifting from waiting for business to actively pursuing it. Previously, Haining's strength lay in manufacturing and wholesale; now it aims to export its industrial standards, design language, and brand value directly to end markets. For small and medium enterprises, this collective approach reduces risks. The '1039 Market Procurement Trade' model and the 'Chaolai' service platform provide one-stop customs declaration and settlement, lowering the threshold for going global to nearly zero.
From Landlord to Service Provider: A Deep Role Reshaping
If external expansion is about 'quantity', internal transformation is about 'quality'. In April 2026, Haining Leather City unveiled a 'Four Complexes' construction plan: a foreign trade service complex, a 'tourism, shopping, dining, accommodation, and entertainment' complex, a full-category apparel complex, and a vertically integrated industrial chain complex. This marks a shift from a simple property lessor to an industrial service integrator.
On the consumer side, the market is introducing more experiential formats. New energy vehicle showrooms, trendy tea shops, and leather craft stores have moved in. Building A is undergoing a facelift, the DFUR luxury center has been renovated, and the 'Haining·IN Lane' waterfront district and Waterfront Art Center are under development. These moves show that Haining Leather City is no longer content to be just a trading venue; it aims to become a lifestyle space integrating shopping, leisure, and experiences.
The underlying logic: a specialized market's vitality depends on its ability to serve the industry, not just collect rent. When the market transforms from a 'landlord' to a 'service provider', it ceases to be a transaction endpoint and becomes a value starting point. For tenants, this means more traffic and efficient supply chain support; for buyers, it means richer selections and a more convenient purchasing experience.