May 18th

Leather and Hide Weekly

 

leather_products

 

LHCA announced the Real Leather. Stay Different. global student design competition has entered its next phase in China, as 55 contestants, out of more than 800 entrants, were chosen to develop samples of their innovative leather designs. LHCA also continues to monitor, and actively engage on, issues impacting U.S. hides, skin and leather trade. As part of these efforts, LHCA last week joined dozens of other agriculture associations in calling for the immediate appointment and swift confirmation of a Chief Agriculture Negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. More on these and other topics below.

 

jackets_in_a_row

 

Weekly Hides and Skins Stats 

  • Net sales of cured cattle hides reported for the period ending May 6, 2021, were 384,600 pieces and net sales of wet blue were 66,600 pieces. Reported shipments of cured hides were 425,800 and of wet blue were 142,900. China was the largest buyer of cured hides and the largest destination for wet blue. See more. For historical data, click here. 
  • U.S. Cattle Slaughter was 640,000 last week, an increase of 0.3 percent from the previous week. Total cattle slaughter in 2021 is 12,236,000 head, up 5.7 percent from the same period in 2020. See more.
  • USDA AMS Major Packer Hide Price Report provided prices for seven types of U.S. hides at nine price points with a spread of $20 for branded southwest cows to $51 for butt branded steers. See more.

Industry Updates

rlsd_collage_china

  • The Real Leather. Stay Different. student design competition is ramping up in China as 55 talented designers were selected from more than 800 entrants to move to the next stage of the contest. The student designers now have until June 25 to create samples of their designs in three categories: apparel, footwear and accessories. Winners will be honored in July at an awards ceremony hosted by LHCA and the China Leather Industry Association at China's largest tanning park in Xinji, Hebei. The overall competition winner will be featured in Rollacoaster Magazine and in a RLSD coffee table book under development. Check out this video chronicling the competition's progress in China.  
  • There is still time to register for next week's ANPIC trade show in Leon, Mexico. The spring/summer installment will take place May 26-28 and will be presented both virtually and in person. Registration details and an agenda are available here.
  • The Leather Research Laboratory at the University of Cincinnati is hiring a senior research associate, who will be responsible for coordinating research studies involving leather tanning (novel tanning agents/processes), assist in the root cause analysis of industry problems (generally cured hides & wet blue/wet white hides), help formulate specifications and recommend test protocols to address field complaints experienced by clients and assist with the creation and presentation of the educational content that the department offers. Applicants are required to have a Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field and 3+ years tannery experience. We offer an attractive compensation package, including base salary and excellent benefits (e.g., retirement, medical/dental, tuition remission), and relocation assistance, if required. The University of Cincinnati, as a multi-national and culturally diverse university, is committed to providing an inclusive, equitable and diverse place of learning and employment. As part of a complete job application, you will be asked to include a Contribution to Diversity and Inclusion statement. The University of Cincinnati is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer/Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran. For more information and to apply, click here. 

Latest Updates from Real Leather. Stay Different.

leather_europe

 

Leather -- it's a material that has been used for centuries, coveted for its durability, adaptability and beauty. Historically, leather production centers dominated the industry, but today, leather is produced globally, consistent with local methods and traditions. Our new three-part series, "Leather Locations," examines the history and modern-day manufacturing trends of the global leather industry in notable countries across Europe, Asia and the Americas. Check out the first installment of "Leather Locations" tracing the development of Europe's leather industry. Get the latest news from Real Leather. Stay Different. here. And, don't forget to:

 

leather_cutting

 

Monthly Drought Monitor - April 2021

This U.S. Drought Monitor week saw deterioration in drought-related conditions on the map across areas of the West, including California, Oregon, Washington, Utah and Montana. Moving into dry season, California is expecting drought impacts to intensify during the summer months as snowpack runoff is forecasted to be below normal and reservoir storage levels at the state's two largest reservoirs (Lake Shasta and Lake Oroville) are at 48 percent and 41 percent of average, respectively. In response to the deteriorating conditions, Governor Newsom expanded the coverage of his recent drought emergency declaration to include an additional 39 counties statewide. In the Southwest, Lake Powell is currently 35 percent full and Lake Mead is 38 percent full with the total Lower Colorado system at 43 percent full (compared to 52 percent full at the same time last year) as of May 10, according to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. In New Mexico, the state's largest reservoir along the Rio Grande is currently at 12 percent full. In Arizona, the Salt River Project is reporting the Salt River system reservoirs at 79 percent full, the Verde River system at 32 percent full and the total reservoir system at 73 percent full (compared to 98 percent full a year ago). In the High Plains, portions of eastern Colorado and Wyoming  saw improvement in drought conditions in response to recent rainfall events and improvement in soil moisture levels. In the Midwest and Northeast, beneficial rainfall during the past two weeks has helped reduce areas of drought on the map. In the South and Southeast, heavy rainfall impacted portions of the region during the past several weeks, leading to reductions in areas of drought in response to improved soil moisture and streamflow levels. 

2021_may_drought_map

Other News

  • U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai last week appeared before both the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee to discuss President Joe Biden's 2021 Trade Policy Agenda. Ambassador Tai addressed questions related to the U.S.-China phase one trade agreement, tariff disputes with the European Union, and free trade agreement negotiations with Kenya and the United Kingdom, among other issues. Tai also said the Biden Administration continues to review trade negotiations and tariff policies initiated and implemented under the previous Administration. She expressed interest in modernizing trade laws that granted authority to former President Trump to impose duties on imports of steel and aluminum and vowed to address longstanding labor concerns with Mexico. 
  • The Leather and Hide Council of America joined dozens of other food and agriculture organizations in sending a letter to President Biden urging he nominate a Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. "We view the swift nomination and appointment of a Chief Agricultural Negotiator as central to achieving improved and expanded market access for the U.S. food, agriculture and seafood sectors," the organizations wrote in the letter.  

 

auto_leather

 

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.