August 11th
Leather and Hide Weekly
The Leather and Hide Council of America (LHCA) continues to monitor developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and is available to support members navigating this rapidly evolving situation. LHCA has learned that Ecuador intends to impose new registration requirements for bovine salted hide exports to the country. Also, the "Real Leather. Stay Different." Global Student Design Competition is nearing its end in Taiwan, with an Awards Ceremony to honor the talented finalists scheduled for September in Taipei. LHCA member company representatives in Taiwan are invited to attend. Plus, the latest monthly trade data is now available. More on these and other topics below.
We hope you stay safe and healthy.
Weekly Hides and Skins Stats
- Net sales of cured cattle hides reported for the period ending July 30 were 329,500 pieces and of wet blue were 80,800 pieces. Reported shipments of cured hides were 482,500 and of wet blue were 149,100. China was the largest buyer of cured hides and Italy was the largest destination for wet blues. See more. For historical data, click here.
- U.S. Cattle Slaughter was 633,000 last week, down 0.8 percent from the previous week. Total cattle slaughter in 2020 is 19,047,000, 5.2 percent below 2019 levels. See more.
- USDA AMS Major Packer Hide Price Report provided prices for three types of U.S. hides at six price points with a spread of $11 for heavy Texas steers to $26 for heavy native steers. See more.
- The USDA price report is a snapshot of the market. For real time hide market prices, please consult our friends at Hidenet, The Jacobsen, The Maxfield Report, or The Sauer Report.
Industry Updates
- APHIS recently informed LHCA that its counterpart in Ecuador, AGROCALIDAD, has instituted new registration requirements covering bovine salted hide exports to the country. According to AGROCALIDAD, all U.S. facilities wishing to export animal products to Ecuador must register using Annex 2 of Resolution 115. The Spanish version of Resolution 115 can be found here, and Annex 2 can be found by searching "Anexo 2" in the PDF. APHIS has already informed AGOCALIDAD that it will not provide official signatures endorsing Annex 2. The deadline to comply with these new requirements was originally August 9, 2020, though APHIS expects the deadline will be extended to October 8, 2020. Contact Michael Schumpp or Guillermo Morfin with questions regarding this new process.
- The "Real Leather. Stay Different." Global Student Design Competition is nearing its completion in Taiwan. Twenty-three students, who were selected to compete in the final round, are now transforming their designs into product samples made using U.S. hides and leather. A panel of judges, featuring brand designers, fashion designers, editors from Taiwan's fashion magazines and leather experts will review and select competition winners on September 8, 2020. The public will also have the chance to weigh in through an online vote on Facebook. LHCA and the Taiwan International Leather Association are working together to organize the Design Exhibition and Awards Ceremony, planned for September 7 and 8, respectively. Both events will take place at Taipei 101. Local government and industry association representatives, media, tanners and leather manufacturers, students and educators will be invited to both events to celebrate the sustainability, versatility, durability and beauty of real U.S. leather. Click here for more information. While travel restrictions will not allow LHCA staff to attend the event, all LHCA member representatives in Taiwan are invited to join the celebration. If your company's representative would like to attend the event, email Jane Li.
- The North American Meat Institute continues to share guidance documents and other resources for industry on its COVID-19 response webpage. The page includes the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding face coverings, employee screening and positive test result protocol, among other pertinent resources. CDC and the Department of Labor issued guidance specific to the meat and poultry processing industry in order to facilitate ongoing operations and support the food supply, while also mitigating the risk of spreading COVID-19. The guidance is available here.
Other Trade News
- President Trump last week announced the U.S. will reimpose a 10% tariff on aluminum imports from Canada, effective August 16, 2020. Canada has not yet announced the details of its retaliatory actions, but it is expected to implement countermeasures by mid-September. Canada's retaliation, however, will be restricted to the U.S. metal sector. More here.
Monthly Trade Data
U.S. hides and skins June 2020 export data is now available. Get a summary of the data here.
- Cured cattle hides exports fell 25 percent in volume and declined 32 percent in value compared to 2019. Download the data here.
- Wet blue shipments decreased 27 percent in volume and 29 percent in value. Italy was the largest buyer by value, totaling nearly $52.4 million.
- Pigskin exports increased eight percent in volume and five percent in value compared to 2019. Download the data here.
Latest Updates from Real Leather. Stay Different.
Supreme, beloved by skateboard and hip hop enthusiasts, has distinguished itself as a premier leather sports brand, winning partnerships with the NBA and NFL for its high-quality leather and pigskin merchandise. From lux-leather basketballs to the classic pigskin American football, Supreme always brings its A game. Read more about Supreme's story here. Also, get the latest Real Leather. Stay Different. Global Student Design Competition news here. And, don't forget to:
Leather News
Each week, we will share relevant leather news below. Some of the articles may cover our products, and the industry, unfavorably, but we still believe it is important to share the different ways in which leather is presented in the media. If you find articles that you would like to see included, please send them to mschumpp@meatinstitute.org.