The Global Synthetic Leather for Sports Goods Market was valued at USD 2.86 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 4.12 Billion by 2030, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.3% during the forecast period (2024–2030). This growth is being driven by increasing sports participation globally, rising demand for durable and weather-resistant athletic gear, and the accelerating adoption of Eco-Friendly Synthetic Leather solutions across professional and recreational sports sectors.

As the sports industry transforms toward more sustainable, high-performance materials, the spotlight is on the key synthetic leather manufacturers who are driving innovation, durability, and environmental responsibility in athletic equipment. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Synthetic Leather for Sports Goods Industry—a mix of chemical conglomerates, material specialists, and sustainable materials pioneers shaping the future of global sports equipment.

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🔟 1. Kuraray Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: Clarino®, Glore®, and Eco-Friendly Synthetic Leather

Kuraray is among the world’s leading synthetic leather manufacturers, offering high-performance materials for sports balls, gloves, and footwear. Their sports division serves major athletic brands, equipment manufacturers, and professional leagues, with growing investments in water-based polyurethane and bio-based leather technologies.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Water-based PU technologies with reduced environmental impact

• Partnerships with global sports brands for sustainable collections

• Committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050

Download FREE Sample Report: Synthetic Leather for Sports Goods Market – View in Detailed Research Report

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9️⃣ 2. Toray Industries, Inc.

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: Ultrasuede®, Ecous™, High-Performance Synthetic Leather

Toray Industries operates in more than 20 countries and supplies synthetic leather to over 100 sports equipment manufacturers annually. It is a significant player in microfiber synthetic leather production and recycling initiatives.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Closed-loop recycling systems for synthetic leather waste

• Collaboration with international sports federations on material standards

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8️⃣ 3. Teijin Limited

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: Solotex®, ECO CIRCLE®, Sustainable Synthetic Leather

Teijin’s sports materials division is expanding its eco-friendly footprint through its proprietary nanofiber technology and bio-PU developments.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Bio-based polyurethane development from renewable resources

• Supply partnerships with major soccer ball and sports glove manufacturers

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7️⃣ 4. Covestro AG

Headquarters: Leverkusen, Germany
Key Offering: Insqin®, Desmodur®, Eco-Friendly PU Leather

Covestro is one of Europe’s leading synthetic leather raw material suppliers, serving both sports equipment brands and material converters. The company is heavily invested in water-based polyurethane technologies and recycling solutions for synthetic leather products.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Goal of 80% sustainable raw materials in production by 2030

• Europe’s largest water-based PU production facility expansion underway

Download FREE Sample Report: Synthetic Leather for Sports Goods Market – View in Detailed Research Report

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6️⃣ 5. Shandong Friendship

Headquarters: Weifang, China
Key Offering: PVC Leather, PU Leather, Microfiber Leather

Shandong Friendship’s sports materials arm delivers synthetic leather to more than 300 sports equipment manufacturers globally. The company provides custom-color matching and specialized surface treatments for different sports applications.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Implementation of solvent-free production processes

• Targets 50% reduction in VOC emissions by 2028

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5️⃣ 6. Wangkang Group

Headquarters: Wenzhou, China
Key Offering: High-Performance PU, Ecological PU, Sports-Grade Synthetic Leather

Wangkang Group is a major player in sports-grade synthetic leather manufacturing, supplying materials for professional soccer balls, basketballs, and goalkeeping gloves.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Current production capacity: Over 50 million square meters/year

• Target: 80 million square meters/year by 2027

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4️⃣ 7. Asahi Kasei Corporation

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: Lamous®, Bemberg®, Sports Equipment Leather

Asahi Kasei serves over 200 sports equipment manufacturers with synthetic leather materials and is one of the largest suppliers in the Asian sports equipment market.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Limited public sustainability reporting but implementing internal environmental management systems

• R&D into bio-based synthetic leather alternatives

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3️⃣ 8. Duksung Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea
Key Offering: PVC Artificial Leather, PU Synthetic Leather

Duksung is South Korea’s top synthetic leather supplier for sports goods, distributing materials to major international sports brands and domestic manufacturers.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Development of recycled content synthetic leather

• Industry-academic collaborations for material innovation

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2️⃣ 9. Daewon Chemical Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea
Key Offering: PU Leather, PVC Leather, Eco-PU for Sports

Daewon Chemical is a key player in Asian synthetic leather production, with specialized lines for sports equipment manufacturing. Their sustainability initiative focuses on developing solvent-free production technologies and water-based coating systems.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• Investment in green chemistry alternatives for leather production

• Major expansion of eco-friendly PU production capacity underway

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1️⃣ 10. Filwel Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Osaka, Japan
Key Offering: PU Synthetic Leather, Microfiber Leather, Sports Equipment Materials

Filwel specializes in high-performance synthetic leather for professional sports applications, supporting over 500 equipment manufacturers worldwide with custom-developed sports materials.

Sustainability Initiatives:

• End-to-end sustainable material solutions for global sports brands

• Strategic partnerships with sports federations for material testing and certification.

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🌍 Outlook: The Future of Sports Synthetic Leather Is High-Performance and Sustainable

The synthetic leather for sports goods market is undergoing a dynamic shift. While traditional PVC-based materials still dominate in volume, the industry is investing significantly in eco-friendly alternatives, advanced coating technologies, and circular economy solutions.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

• Rapid eco-PU capacity expansion in Europe, North America, and Asia

• Regulatory push for reduced VOC emissions and recyclable materials in sports equipment

• Digitalization of material supply chains and sustainability tracking

• Sports brand-material manufacturer alliances for environmental product declarations

Get Full Report Here: Synthetic Leather for Sports Goods Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies listed above are not only supplying global sports equipment—they’re pioneering the sustainable transformation of athletic gear.

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