ACTAsia’s Fur Report – Update

28 January 2025

The fur industry is one of the most archaic but also still in operation today. Every year, a staggering 100M animals are killed for their fur worldwide. The majority of the fur comes from animals raised on factory farms, with China being the largest fur producing country. This multi-billion-pound industry continues to produce fur garments/trims/accessories despite global campaigns highlighting the damaging impact of the fur industry. In China alone, 2.55M of fur clothing was exported in 2022 with an export value of approximately US$ 1.24B. Not only does fur farming cause extreme stress to millions of animals in captivity it also poses a huge risk to the environment and crucially to human health

Dangers of fur farming to human health

A recent research paper by Frontiers has revealed that fur farming represents significant threat to human and animal health and is linked to at least 18 potentially deadly infectious diseases including COVID-19, botulism, MRSA, rabies bird flu and salmonella.

Far from being a natural resource, fur production is an intensely toxic and energy-consumptive process, with pelts being dipped in toxic chemical and animal waste runoff from fur factory farms polluting soil and waterways. Chromium compounds used in fur processing are toxic to the environment and public health. Chromium stunts crop growth and affects human health and fertility.

However, despite these shocking findings, the fur industry continues to be big business in Asia. China is the largest producer, mainly due to the fact that the industry is encouraged, and not subject to legislation or regulation regarding animal welfare or environmental protection. The industry makes up almost 0.5% of national GDP in China.  

ACTAsia’s Fur Consumer Surveys 

ACTAsia’s consumer surveys are the first and most comprehensive studies in the world on the fur issue in China. By tracking consumer habits in China, the survey provides a vital insight into the industry. ACTAsia first initiated research into China’s fur trade and its position in the global fur industry in 2017. The surveys scrutinise in detail China’s domestic fur farming, production and consumption as well as the import and export of pelts and fur products. ACTAsia has continued its in-depth research work and now publishes an updated report every two years. 

The latest update report covers the latest research findings from 2022 to 2023, and as the first update after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, it emphasises the serious implications for global health and the future of fur farming

The report seeks to provide a better understanding of China’s fur industry in light of the global fur trade, to heighten public awareness of the negative impacts of fur production on animal welfare and human well-being and to inform policy and legislation, advocating for more sustainable alternatives to fur. 

The latest report uncovered the following 10 key findings:

1. China is home to the biggest fur industry in the world. Fur used by the global fur industry is primarily sourced from animals raised on factory farms, with China leading in fur production worldwide. China was the largest mink and fox fur producer and produces nearly 100% of racoon dog fur. A total of 90,269 fur industry-related businesses 

2. A decline in fur farming has been observed in China and worldwide. Over recent years, there has been a significant and rapid decline in fur production in China for mink, foxes, and raccoon dogs. By species, the largest decrease is in fox fur production from 8.36M to 3.03M (-64%), followed by raccoon dog fur production from 7.91M to 3.18M (-60%), and mink fur production from 5.79M to 3.88M (-33%).

3. Different regions in China retain their distinct roles and characteristics within the fur industry. The largest fur producing provinces are concentrated in Northeast China, the coldest region in the country. The cold climate produces animals with thicker fur and drives the high demand for fur products in the region. The majority of fur processing centres are found in Hebei province, which has seven major fur markets. Regional differences in climate and regulations also influence the production and quality of fur products.

4. The fur industry in China has experienced mixed performance in recent years. The export value of China’s fur garments has been in decline from 2019 to 2023. China’s fur garment export value in 2023 was US$ 776.4M, a decrease of 37% from 2022. Bankruptcy rates among fur production businesses were also high. Despite this decline China remains a significant exporter of fur clothing, with its main export markets including the African Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the European Union (EU), Russia, and the USA.

5. The ACTAsia 2022 consumer survey identified trends in consumer preferences for fur accessories and full fur coats plus an urgent need for fur-related education. Fur consumers and non-fur consumers struggled to accurately identify fur products in the survey, often mistaking leather items for fur. This lack of accurate identification underscores the need for education about fur terminology and characteristics to enable informed consumer choices.

6. E-commerce and social media platforms have become popular channels for purchasing fur but there are issues with quality. Fur clothing is sold on 16 domestic e-commerce platforms in China. Despite the popularity of online platforms – where live streaming shopping and sales of fur have gained significant traction – consumers have raised issues regarding fur product quality. Complaints about shedding, strong odours, and poor stitching indicate a need for improved product standards and quality control measures.

7. The international fur industry is engaging with Chinese academic institutions to promote fur among fashion design students.  Collaborations between companies like Saga Furs and Chinese universities are promoting fur as a key design material to students who are encouraged to incorporate fur in their designs. However, there is bias in the information provided to students, which omits the animal welfare, environmental, and health aspects of fur fashion. This highlights the need for comprehensive courses that address the ethical, environmental, and health considerations of fur production. Initiatives like ACTAsia’s Compassion in Fashion: Sustainability and the Global Fur Trade course help students to make informed and ethical decisions in their future careers.

8. Fur farming poses high risks for zoonotic diseases and the practice violates One Health framework. Mink, foxes and raccoon dogs farmed for fur can act as reservoirs of SARS-CoV-2 infections that may lead to a re-emergence of the viruses in humans. Wild animals are highly susceptible to infection but can also transmit the virus to humans. Farmed animals are also sources of new pandemic viruses and variants, which can undermine efforts to prevent the spread of zoonoses. Fur farming has grave environmental consequences. The creation of fur products uses more water and produces a higher carbon footprint than many other material types.

9. Wild animals farmed for fur (mink, foxes, and raccoon dogs) are not protected under China’s Wildlife Protection Law and are classified as livestock under the Animal Husbandry Law. Scientists have emphasised that wildlife protection is crucial for both public health and global biodiversity conservation. Despite some local enforcement efforts, there is a need for stricter regulation and enforcement nationwide to ensure wildlife protection and food safety standards are upheld.

10. Welfare Standards for fur farmed animals (WelFur & Furmark®) inadequately assess animal welfare on fur farms. Despite being portrayed as a science-based certification system, WelFur is funded and influenced by the fur industry, raising conflict of interest concerns. Certifications such as WelFur do not protect wild animals and cannot ensure the welfare of animals in fur farms.

You can download the full ACTAsia report from this resource page. The Mirror Newspaper web article is here

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