The aim of this publication is to explain the situation in hide manufacturing industry in Latvia. All obtained and evaluated information shows that this branch of national economy is practically not utilized. It is necessary to restore and to exploit historical and experimental researches which have not been realized in the hide industry up to this time. The main problem has been clarified within the process of initial studies – hide storing and preservation possibilities in Latvia’s cattle slaughterhouses. Furthermore it is problematic to store even a half of unutilized raw materials in Latvia. This article is acquainting a reader with the Latvia’s leather industrial development also describing the current situation in leather manufacturing. The reasons of elimination of leather manufacturing as well as leather export and import data are going to be examined since 2001. Activities of Latvia’s slaughter houses will be evaluated and potential raw material suppliers would be clarified. It is planned the results of experiments to publish thereby giving the possibility to make the results accessible for students, society, professional users and educational needs. The theme of research work corresponds to the interests of Latvian national economy, i.e. to expand the assortment of leather made production, to work out new hide handling and storing technologies, and to improve the old ones.