China's Export Scale and Market Share of Travel Suitcases and Backpacks

China's Export Scale and Market Share of Travel Suitcases and Backpacks

As a core producer and exporter of travel suitcases (e.g., abs suitcase, aluminum frame luggage, hard shell suitcase, set of 3 suitcases, carryon luggage) and backpacks (e.g., travel rucksack, mens rucksack, womens rucksack, sling bags for ladies, traveling bags for men) globally, China has solidified its position in the international market in recent years. According to data from the China Leather Association, China's export value of travel goods and luggage reached $35.73 billion in 2023, up 3.9% year on year, with an export volume of 13.43 billion pieces. The average unit price increased by 29.1% to $2.7 per piece, highly consistent with the $35.727 billion in luggage exports statistics released by the General Administration of Customs of China, verifying the overall growth trend of the industry.

I. Dominance in the Global Market: Leading in Both Scale and Share

From a global perspective, China's export scale of travel suitcases and backpacks holds an absolute advantage. In 2023, the global luggage market was valued at $38.8 billion, with China's export value accounting for 45% of global trade volume and its production exceeding 50% of the global total. When including categories like backpacks, China's share in global luggage exports further expands. For instance, in 2023, China's export value of travel goods and luggage accounted for 87.7% of the total export value of the leather industry, among which bag products such as travel rucksacks, mens rucksacks, womens rucksacks, sling bags for ladies, and traveling bags for men accounted for 60.3%.

The main export markets are concentrated in the EU, the U.S., and ASEAN, collectively accounting for 78.1% of China's luggage export value. Take Fujian as an example: in 2024, the province's luggage export value reached 21.918 billion yuan, with 47.12% flowing to Europe and the U.S., and the ASEAN market grew by 25.58% year on year, becoming an important growth point.

II. Growth Drivers: Industrial Upgrading and Policy Dividends

The sustained growth of China's luggage exports benefits from multiple factors. First, the advantage of a complete industrial chain is significant: industrial clusters in the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta contribute more than 70% of the country's total production capacity, enabling efficient collaboration from raw material supply to design and production. Second, product innovation drives upgrading, with high-end categories such as intelligent travel suitcases (e.g., abs suitcase with GPS tracking and USB charging functions) and eco-friendly material luggage rapidly emerging. For example, the global smart luggage market reached $4.5 billion in 2024, and Chinese enterprises are seizing the market by integrating intelligent features.

Policy support is equally crucial. After the entry into force of the RCEP Agreement, the tariff on China's luggage exports to Japan dropped from 8% to 6.5%. In the first three quarters of 2024, the Guangzhou Customs issued more than 2,300 certificates of origin for luggage enterprises, reducing taxes by over 19 million yuan. Cross-border e-commerce has also become a new growth engine: in 2024, Baigou luggage exports via market procurement trade amounted to 7.154 billion yuan, up 17.78% year on year, covering 191 countries and regions.

III. Challenges and Transformation: Breaking Through from "OEM" to "Branding"

Despite its advantages, China's luggage exports face multiple challenges. Raw material costs fluctuate significantly: the price of PVC film soared from 6,000-8,500 yuan/ton in 2022 to 12,000-15,000 yuan/ton in 2023, squeezing corporate profit margins. In terms of trade barriers, Brazil has imposed an additional 20% tariff on imported goods under $50 since August 2024, and markets like the U.S. pose potential risks of high tariffs. Moreover, emerging economies such as Vietnam and India are diverting part of the orders in the low- and mid-end markets with lower labor costs. In 2023, ASEAN's exports of travel goods and luggage accounted for about 10% of the global total, with Vietnam ranking second globally in PU handbag exports.

To address these challenges, Chinese enterprises are accelerating their transformation. Luggage enterprises in Pinghu, Zhejiang, and other regions have improved added value by acquiring overseas brands and establishing independent R&D centers, increasing product unit prices from $5 to over $100 and raising gross profit margins from 5% to 20%-30%. Industrial clusters like Baigou are promoting the penetration of products into mid-to-high-end markets by cultivating more than 1,400 independent brands. The industry prosperity index reached 121.23 points in the third quarter of 2024, a record high.

IV. Future Outlook: Quality and Innovation as Key to Global Success

Looking ahead, China's exports of travel suitcases and backpacks will show two major trends: first, high-endization-the demand for smart luggage (e.g., aluminum frame luggage and hard shell suitcase with intelligent functions) and sustainable material products is surging. It is expected that the global smart luggage market will exceed $10 billion by 2030, and the proportion of recycled leather use will increase by an average of 2.3 percentage points annually. Second, diversification-countries along the "Belt and Road" have become new growth points. In 2024, China's luggage export value to ASEAN increased by 25.58% year on year, with remarkable growth in markets such as the African Union and Russia.

Overall, China's luggage industry is transforming from a "world factory" to a "global brand." With technological upgrading, brand building, and policy dividends, China is expected to continue expanding its advantages in the global market for travel suitcases (e.g., abs suitcase, set of 3 suitcases, carryon luggage) and backpacks (e.g., travel rucksack, mens rucksack, womens rucksack, sling bags for ladies, traveling bags for men), consolidating the international influence of "Made in China."