Bulletin

Chinese tanners feel that the recent optimism shown by U.S. suppliers is misplaced, and that the world of new finished leather sales is still not in a strong place. Some finished leather tanneries in China remain closed or work under restrictions, while many report that they have lost business to other Far Eastern countries’ tanners during the lockdown period.

Sales are reported to be very slow in the French hide market and are hard to come by. The continued inflationary pressures and supply chain disruptions are preventing tanners from having any visibility for sales of finished leather for the months ahead. Several Italian tanners are already halting deliveries of raw hides for their summer break period which is earlier than usual. 

Prices on both hides sold to Italian and Chinese tanners are back again from the previous levels. In truth, most Italian tanners have already purchased all they require prior to the annual August shut down period, which this year will start towards the end of July. 

After the large price falls in the green hide market the week prior, week 24, 2022 has shown to have been a quiet one. Only a modest fall is reported to have taken place. 

Slaughter numbers remain below par in Germany, not helped by a recent national holiday. Even with male cattle prices falling by up to 25% the demand for beef consumption has not improved. 

The only price that appears to be stable in Greece at present is the abattoir sold green price. All the bids that suppliers are receiving from their customers are below the levels of the previous sales. This is putting a squeeze on suppliers at both ends, just at a time when energy, transport and labour rates are all increasing. 

There are a growing number of Chinese tanners concerned that they have lost business to other origins. Freight increases that have risen over the past two years started to see manufacturers moving their operations closer to the source of the raw material. 

Last week (June 17) ended with steer prices on several selections slightly higher than they entered the week. Chinese and Mexican tanners were reported to be active in the market, with both looking to source material for the automotive industry.

While some EU countries have already provided their slaughter statistics to the European database for the month of April, for most the most recent available data is for the month of March 2022. All data for the current year is still provisional.

The exchange rate with the US$ is the big talking point in China as it drags itself out of lockdown. Already if buyers buy at the same value, then in real terms, they are paying more because of the reduced value of the RMB against the US$.