UK Brief
The UK fur industry is in decline: should fur be banned in Britain?
The UK fur industry is in rapid decline due to falling consumer demand, ethical concerns, and widespread public opposition. Despite a ban on fur farming since 2003, imports of fur—mainly from countries like China—continue, though they now make up just 0.005% of UK trade. Major fashion brands have turned away from fur, and public surveys consistently show overwhelming support for banning its import and sale. With fur largely absent from luxury and economic reports, its relevance in the UK market is quickly disappearing.
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The UK fur industry has experienced an economic decline over the past decade. Both imports and exports of raw animal furskin to and from the UK have seen significant downward trends.
While the impact of the Covid-19 has contributed to this decline, the downward trend appears to predate the pandemic and can be explained by decreasing consumer demand and a series of fur bans by major fashion brands.
In addition to this declining trend, the data also shows that the differential between imports and exports has narrowed significantly, suggesting the UK has become little more than a trading post for raw furskin.
While UK imports and exports of raw furskins (commodity code 4301) have shown a significant downward trend, the import and export of tanned or dressed furskins (commodity code 4302) and articles of apparel, clothing accessories and other items made of fur (4303, hereafter fur products) has been more variable.
Raw furskins, tanned or dressed furkins and fur products represented just 0.005% of all commodities imported by the UK in 2024 and just 0.004% of all commodities exported by the UK in 2024.
The UK fur industry has been in significant decline
A recent economic report by the UK Fashion and Textile Association found that the fashion and textile industry contributed £62 billion to the UK’s GDP in 2021 and supported 1.3 million jobs. Yet while the report acknowledged the economic contribution of the worsted, woollen and leather industries, it made no mention of the fur industry.
Furthermore, recent YouGov analysis of the UK luxury retail market found the UK’s luxury goods sector is projected to generate a revenue of approximately £13.61 billion for 2024 and experience an annual growth rate of 4.05%. However, fur is not even mentioned, with fragrances, drinks and accessories such as handbags and sunglasses topping the list of luxury products purchased by UK luxury retail shoppers.
Recent ONS retail industry data reveals that GBP 15,702 million of clothing was imported into the UK in 2023. By comparison, fur product imports that year (including all articles of apparel, clothing accessories and other items made of fur) were just GBP 13.3 million.
Despite the significant decline of the UK fur industry, in 2023 the UK imported 715,890 kilograms of fur or fur products at a value of GBP 39,703,690 and in 2024 imported 539,674 kilograms of fur or fur products at a value of GBP 34,804,010. Based on previous estimates, this equates to approximately 1 million animals per year.
Of imported raw furskins, the main import in both 2023 and 2024 was “Heads, tails, paws and other pieces or cuttings of furskins suitable for use in furriery.” Given that this categorisation does not include specific species, it is difficult to determine precise numbers of the different animal species involved in fur imports to the UK.
However, the main whole furskins imported into the UK come from mink and types of lamb (Astrakhan, Caracul, Persian, Broadtail and similar, and Indian, Chinese, Mongolian or Tibetan).
In 2024, most raw furskins entering the UK came from China.
Fur imported into the UK from countries like China is predominantly obtained from farmed animals. Fur farming has been banned in the UK since the Fur Farming (Prohibition) Act (2000) was brought into force in 2003. However, the import and sale of fur in the UK remains legal. The UK public strongly supports measures to close this legal loophole.
UK Public Opinion On Fur
Surveys conducted on UK public attitudes to fur demonstrate that UK public opinion has been consistently opposed to fur and fur farming. A range of public opinion polls conducted over a 25 year period from 1997 to 2022 show strong opposition towards wearing real fur, as well as the import and sale of animal fur.
A YouGov survey from 2020 showed high levels of public support for banning the import and sale of animal fur, with 72% of respondents supporting a ban and 93% of respondents stating that they do not or no longer wear fur.
Further national polling in 2022 revealed that 77% of British citizens think the government should ban the importation of animal products such as fur, where the production methods are already banned in the UK.
In May 2021, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) launched a Call for Evidence on the UK fur market with the aim of using the evidence to inform future policy. A Freedom of Information request revealed that 96% of around 30,000 respondents to the Call for Evidence agreed it is wrong for animals to be killed for their fur.
