December 8

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 situation. APLF announced it will convene exhibitors and buyers for a virtual exhibition, slated to take place in late January 2021, that will focus on key leather markets. LHCA is seeking member input regarding the association's participation in this event. The virtual exhibit will not replace the APLF Leather and Materials + show, which is scheduled to be held in July 2021 in Hong Kong. Also, LHCA joined other agricultural organizations and businesses in calling on the incoming Biden Administration to review ongoing U.S. trade disputes and to address current tariff policies that are impeding America's economic recovery. More on these and other topics below.

We hope you stay safe and healthy.

 

cows

 

Weekly Hides and Skins Stats 

  • Net sales of cured cattle hides reported for the period ending November 26 were 267,400 pieces and of wet blue were 223,800 pieces. Reported shipments of cured hides were 309,000 and of wet blue were 111,200. China was the largest buyer of cured hides and Vietnam was the largest destination for wet blues. See more. For historical data, click here. 
  • U.S. Cattle Slaughter was 667,000 last week, up 18.3 percent from the previous week. Total cattle slaughter in 2020 is 29,962,000, 3.4 percent below 2019 levels. See more.
  • USDA AMS Major Packer Hide Price Report provided prices for six types of U.S. hides at seven price points with a spread of $9.50 for branded southwest cows to $38.50 for heavy native steers.  See more.

Industry Updates

  • APLF announced it will host a virtual exhibition from January 20-February 4, 2021, in Greater China, India, Africa and the Middle East. APLF intends to recruit 100 exhibitors and 1,000 buyers in each market. Targeted buyers include tanneries and manufacturers of leather footwear, bags and garments in each of the aforementioned countries and regions. LHCA is seeking input from members regarding whether and how to participate in this virtual event. If your company is interested in participating, please contact Jane Li by December 11, 2020. Please note, this virtual APLF exhibit will not replace the 2021 APLF Leather and Materials + trade show, which will take place July 5-7, 2021, in Hong Kong.      
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued updated travel and isolation guidance, allowing for a quarantine period of 7-10 days, if certain conditions are met. 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 CDC regarding face coverings, employee screening and positive test result protocol, among other pertinent resources. Additionally, CDC and the Department of Labor issued guidance specific to the meat and poultry packing and 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.

leather_care_tipse

 

As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, more people turn to leather for its comfort and durability. Here's our latest guide on how to keep your favorite leather clothes, bags and shoes in peak condition and ready to see you through all conditions. Get the latest news from Real Leather. Stay Different. here. And, don't forget to:

 

Other News

  • LHCA joined more than 160 agriculture and business organizations in sending a letter to President-elect Joe Biden's Transition Team urging the president-elect, in his firs 100 days, to review ongoing U.S. trade disputes and to address current tariff policies that are impeding America's economic recovery. The organizations also call on President-elect Biden to work with U.S. allies to establish a multilateral approach to addressing China's unfair trading practices. Read the letter here. 
leather pile

 

Monthly Trade Data

U.S. hides and skins October 2020 export data is now available. Get a summary of the data here.*

  • Cured cattle hides exports fell 10 percent in volume and 26 percent in value compared to 2019. Download the data here.
  • Wet blue shipments decreased 26 percent in volume and 30 percent in value. Italy was the largest buyer by value, totaling more than $80.1 million.
  • Pig skin exports increased 6 percent in volume and 5 percent in value compared to 2019. Download the data here. 

*Please note, monthly and weekly export data often diverge. As a result, the figures in the links above may not align with the data presented in the weekly hides and skins statistics reported in this newsletter. LHCA is aware of this issue and is working with USDA and Customs to recalibrate the monthly data to more accurately reflect weekly figures.

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.