September 29th

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 successfully concluded the Taiwan leg of its "Real Leather. Stay Different." Global Student Design Competition, with a spectacular Product Demonstration and Awards Ceremony in Taipei. The competition aimed to showcase the beauty, sustainability, versatility and durability of real U.S. leather. Plus, LHCA will hold its Annual Meeting virtually from October 21-23, 2020. A new section below provides additional details about the meeting, along with links to register for its various sessions. Meeting sponsorship and advertising opportunities are also available. More on these and other topics below.

We hope you stay safe and healthy.

 

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Weekly Hides and Skins Stats 

  • Net sales of cured cattle hides reported for the period ending September 17 were 535,200 pieces and of wet blue were 226,700 pieces. Reported shipments of cured hides were 462,400 and of wet blue were 188,900. 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 651,000 last week, up 0.9 percent from the previous week. Total cattle slaughter in 2020 is 23,505,000, 4.3 percent below 2019 levels. See more.
  • USDA AMS Major Packer Hide Price Report provided prices for six types of U.S. hides at six price points with a spread of $4.50 for branded southwest cows to $31.50 for heavy native steers.  See more.

LHCA Annual Meeting Spotlight

  • Mark your calendars -- LHCA will hold its Annual Meeting virtually from October 21-23, 2020. 
  • Companies interested in sponsoring this event should contact Michael Schumpp. Thank you to our current sponsors: Buckman, Cargill Meat Solutions, Hutchinson Salt Co., Norseman, Sprint Forwarders Inc, theSauerReport and The Jacobsen. 
  • A draft meeting agenda is available here. The following sessions require registration, and links are provided below. Registration is free. Please note, Committee meetings are open to all current LHCA Producer and Associate member companies. The General Session is open to all meeting participants.  
    • General Session, Friday, October 23, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. CT
    • Marketing and Sustainability Committee, Wednesday, October 21, 3-4:30 p.m. CT.
    • Hides and Skins Committee Meeting, Thursday, October 22, 10:30-11:30 a.m. CT. 
    • Tanner and Environmental Committee Meeting, Thursday, October 22, 12:00-1:00 p.m. CT. 

Global Leather Student Design Competition Concludes Successfully in Taiwan

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  • The "Real Leather. Stay Different." Global Student Design Competition wrapped up in Taiwan with a well-attended, highly successful Product Demonstration and Awards Ceremony, held September 7-8 in Taipei.  More than 300 students from 15 Taiwan design schools participated in the competition, which required entrants to submit designs that featured U.S. hides and leather as the principal materials.  Following weeks of public online voting, which drew thousands, and input from a prestigious panel of judges, led by the Chief Content Officer of Hearst Magazine Taiwan, 21 winners were ultimately selected across four design categories: garments, life craft, accessories and footwear.  The winners also presented consumer-ready prototypes of their creative designs during a Product Demonstration, which more than 250 guests attended, including representatives from Taiwan's leather and tanning industry, local brands and retailers, and media, among others. The competition, and ensuing Awards Ceremony and Product Demonstration, aimed to showcase the beauty, sustainability, versatility and durability of U.S. leather. Three other contests are currently underway, at various stages, in China, Italy and the United Kingdom. Read more here about the competition in Taiwan.   

Industry Updates

  • LHCA President Stephen Sothmann joined International Leather Maker for its latest podcast: "Debunking the controversy around cattle and climate change." The podcast featured Dr. Frank Mitloehner, professor in the Department of Animal Science at the University of California, Davis, and internationally acclaimed air quality expert, specializing in the measurement and mitigation of airborne pollutants from livestock production, including greenhouse gases. The podcast examines common misconceptions about animal agriculture and the leather industry in the context of the climate change debate and explores the link between cattle farming and climate neutrality, among other topics. Listen here.
  • The Center for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB), in coordination with the National Wildlife Federation, announced a new webinar series focused on sustainability and the future of the leather sector. "Leather Business and the Future Consumer" will be delivered in live broadcasts on October 15 and November 5. The series will examine sustainability as it relates to the fashion, furniture and automotive industries. Registration is free. Learn more here.
  • The fall installment of the ANPIC show will take place November 3-5, 2020. The event, like its spring edition, will be held virtually. More here. 
  • 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.  

Latest Updates from Real Leather. Stay Different.

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It's hard to believe it has already been one year since the acclaimed Forever Leather Fashion Show in Shanghai, China. Spend a moment taking a trip down memory lane and behold some never-before-seen images from the landmark event. Get the latest news from Real Leather. Stay Different. here. And, don't forget to:

Other Trade News

  • LHCA last week joined more than 60 agriculture organizations in calling for continued U.S. participation in the World Trade Organization (WTO). The organizations sent a letter to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and Congressional Committees with jurisdiction over trade and agriculture, detailing their support for active U.S. leadership and engagement in the WTO. Specifically, the letter seeks WTO reforms to enhance American agriculture's access to foreign markets and to maintain transparency and accountability critical to future export growth. The letter also identifies characteristics desired in the new WTO Director General. The letter is available here. 

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Monthly Trade Data

  • Monthly Livestock Slaughter Report is now available. August 2020 cattle slaughter totaled 2.8 million head, down 4 percent from August 2019. Get a summary of the data here.
  • Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market as of September 1, 2020, totaled 11.4 million head. The inventory was 4 percent above September 1, 2019. Read the report here.   

Cattle on Feed - As of September 1, 2020

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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.