This week: The week was in line with expectations. The ideal situation would have been a continuation of the same momentum we had seen since the All China Leather Exhibition in Shanghai. Unfortunately, this did not quite materialise as one might have hoped in order to then take the momentum with us to Milan.

The week began like all others have done for some time. There were very quick responses to the lists of offers to Asia and these too were an exact copy of what we have received in the recent past. Every offer that aroused interest was met with bids well below the asking price. Even as a standard ritual, the responses were $2 to $3 below the offers. Either low grades at very low prices or the heavier, female skins, well below the magic limit of $30 each, were what attracted the most response. This week it was much more difficult to come to an agreement.

In the end, it has to be said that there was not much left from the bids at the end of the week. The catch that remained in the net was very small and mostly slipped out again. In the end, this was really only because of our stubbornness in the negotiations and our attempts to test how great the need to buy really is in China. With a little more flexibility, it would certainly have been possible to achieve significantly more sales during the week.

From our point of view, not much happened in Europe. That’s hardly surprising, because all eyes were already on Lineapelle in Milan and, as is so often the case, some are obviously hoping for a big turnaround and for a better future. We won’t get ahead of ourselves, but if this is how things turn out it will be a pleasant surprise. In any case, we can already say that the number of visitors (not necessarily exhibitors) will probably be much higher. The Chinese will be able to travel again and many have already announced that they will come. At the same time, one has the impression that people from all over the world are hoping that the Milan event will uncover the Philosopher’s Stone or at least offer an opportunity to consult the Oracle of Delphi.

Even though there will probably be no one there who can reliably predict the future, visitors and exhibitors will take a lot of emotion and information back home. These, as we know, are the most decisive parameters for assessing the situation and the markets, more than facts. Without question, the internet cannot even begin to replace yet the value and impact of face-to-face meetings and conversations. Thus, last week proved relatively quiet. This has little relevance; the real decisions for the winter half of the year will only be made in the coming weeks.

The kill: The kill is slowly increasing. Whether this is due to an increasing demand for meat remains unclear. Of course, in the meantime the school holidays have come to an end in all German federal states and a large number of holidaymakers have returned. This is of course helpful for the basic business and the basic demand. The trend is clear. Taking the weather into account the kill will slowly but steadily increase until Christmas.

What we expect: Lineapelle will, one way or another, trigger a reassessment of the market situation. The parameters available so far are not positive. However, hope dies last and it would not be the first time that pessimism at the start of an exhibition yielded to greater confidence by the end. One thing that one should probably rid oneself of in advance is the logic that a positive impression is synonymous with rising prices in the long term. We hope to hear that our customers are doing well, despite all the adversities.

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