US hide export figures reflect lower slaughter and covid-19
In the first four months of 2020, packers, traders and tanners in the US exported nearly 6.8 million raw or wet blue hides, bringing in export revenues of $338.4 million. This represents a decline of 18.4% in volume and of 22.3% in value year on year.
As well as a decline in demand for hides in the early part of this year, the export numbers have been affected by lower slaughter numbers in the US, where several major packer plants had to close for weeks on end owing to covid-19.
There were exports of just over 5.5 million wet salted hides over the four-month period, which brought in revenues of $208.4 million, down by 19% in volume year on year and by 27% in value.
The figures also show shipments of just over 1.2 million wet blue, which had a value of $130 million, down by 14% in both volume and value.
