In the first four months of 2017, wet blue US exports dropped by 4% in volume and 2% in value on the Annual basis, with absolute values of 2.1 million skins for a turnover of 198 million dollars. These remarks come from USHSLA, an association of exporters. In the same period, however, it expects foreign sales of new salted leather increased by 19% compared to 2016 ($ 503 million) by 7.8 million units (+ 17%). More factors influence the trend.”Primarily the behaviour of Asian buyers, China and Korea who are the first US buyers because of the cheaper cost and easier way to work them according to their tanning techniques” explains leather trader, Francesco Matelli. “There are also qualitative problems in some US tanners, due to internal reorganisations, which have put some lines down,” he concluded.
USA, two-speed export for tannery raw material: wet blue leather halted in favour of new salted leather
