Kanpur, a hub of India’s leather trade, faces extreme heat as temperatures climb to 46 °C (115 °F), stalling production at H. Rehman Tanning Industries. Workers drape buffalo hides on makeshift racks, shielding their heads with white cloths to survive the sun.

At AKI India Ltd., giant fans clash with stifling air as employees feed leather sheets into pressing machines. The heat slows down the flow of raw material, forcing crews to move deliberately and stretch shifts to avoid heat‑related illnesses.

The relentless temperatures threaten to choke the leather supply chain, squeezing margins and raising safety costs. With labor output already reduced, the industry risks a bottleneck that could ripple through global fashion and upholstery markets. The situation underscores the urgent need for climate‑resilient operations in hot regions.