Bulletin

It was around this time last year that the world started to become aware of the coronavirus problems within China, which was subsequently followed by a raw materials price collapse in the trade. Then, as we approached the mid-point of 2020, the Chinese economy picked up, and pretty much saved what business there was in the leather industry, as the country came to grips with the virus.

Bar a very brief couple of trading days at the start of the year, when some weights and grades of hides showed some slight price correction, generally speaking, most new trading since the start of the year has been at steady levels. Without seminally too much room for price negotiation on either side, the status quo appeared to be the pattern set for the short term.

Many hide suppliers came into the New Year with the thought that maybe now was the time to start to push prices a little higher, if only to test the water and the opinions of tanners, both within Europe and the Far East. Indeed, some had already sent out their new offer lists to Chinese tanners, ready for the first day back behind their desks.

As we begin another year, those countries in the Southern hemisphere such as South Africa would normally be well into the tourist season, a season that brings the needed cash into the country: the restaurant trade, the wine trade, and from our trade, the sale of small leather finished goods.

Cowhides, both domestic and those delivered from other European origins, continue to be traded well into China. There appears to be minimal domestic tannery demand for these at present. Prices, for many origins of cowhides, are reported to have topped the US$30.00/hide level. 

The latest CICB green price indicator has shown that for the first full week of 2021, prices have rocketed in value. The price for green hides now stands at BRL1.48/kg, a rise of 12% from the previous week, when prices stood at BRL1.32/kg. Any hope that the short flatline in prices would continue into the New Year has gone within days. One commentator describes the prices as now completely out of control, and unworkable in a way that can return any sort of margin.

Good, positive news on most fronts is coming out of New Zealand. Not only are there reported to be zero coronavirus cases, but life has returned to near normal for most. Only the lack of tourists and the revenue they bring to the country appears to be the downside. 

After a build-up of over two years, the Brexit deal with the E.U. was finally  agreed, meaning that the United Kingdom is no longer part of the European Union. With what is going on with Covid-19 in Europe, the deal was somewhat overshadowed, which perhaps was a good thing and just maybe helped close the deal. The final result is good news for exporters from the UK, as it means there will not be any duties applied to hides imported into the E.U from the UK.

The leather trade entered 2020 with a feeling that after several poor years, things were starting to improve. For the first two or three months of the year, this was indeed the case. Those in the trade that met at the Milan fair Lineapelle felt good about the market. 

Reports from many countries are very similar, and Turkey is no exception to that. The market really should have minimal price changes when considering the state of the world economy at present, but the severe shortage of slaughter puts a strain on the number of hides available.