ICHSLTA predicts more hides by 2025, but warns about quality
28/10/2015
Speaking at the third COTANCE conference and on the future of leather in Alcanena, Portugal, on October 27, Mr Winters projected that growth in world population and an increase in the numbers of people in developing economies who are entering the middle classes and are, therefore, able to afford to eat meat more frequently, will push beef production 22% higher between now and 2025. ICHSLTA’s estimates are that global cattle slaughter is around 290 million head per year at the moment but will reach 430 million head in 2025.
“The new middle class in China is 65 million people per year, the equivalent of a new France each year, and they want to eat more beef and consume more leather,” Mr Winters said. “However, meat consumption in Europe is projected to fall slightly so the extra hides will be from developing countries and will not offer the same quality of raw material as European hides do.”
He said he was confident European tanners would still make the best leather in the world, even from these hides. “European tanners have the experience, the technology and the savoir-faire, the fantasy side,” he said. “They can make amazing leather, even from mediocre hides.”
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