Bulletin

Many in the trade are now trying to understand the recent market activities.

Those tanneries in the shoe upper business report that business is slightly better than they had previously predicted, with many having increased orders to fulfil; this has led to an increased demand for the fed steer hides used in this sector. 

The U.S. market continues to be reported as relatively stable, with some suppliers are reporting that they have received bids on selections they didn’t even offer. 

More and more of the major car manufactures are putting plastic interiors into their cars; some say it is for cost, some say it is for environmental reasons, while others pander to an ill-informed public, concerned about animal welfare.

The recent demand for Queensland hides seems to have run its course. These hides had, had an upturn in demand on the back of the price spike in fed steer hides supplied from the U.S. 

Led by the National Environment Management Authority (Nema), the programme has seen around 25 companies accused of directly discharging waste into Kenya’s Nairobi river being closed, including five tanneries.

Despite the recent price stabilisation of green hides, following several months of falling prices, the general trade for both salted hides and wet-blue hides is still described by one commentator as very bad, with all traders struggling just to survive. 

With green prices remaining unchanged for the past two weeks, and some traders reporting to have achieved firmer prices from their sales into China, it has made some traders feel a little more bullish than for some time. 

Despite positive feelings from the U.S., Chinese tanners continue to complain that the market for finished leather has not improved in the slightest. 

The general feeling is very much one of a holiday mood now. The last of the deliveries to European tanners have all been completed, and it is expected that very little stock will be moved before August 19, maybe even later.