Strong first half for US hides
Exports of raw and semi-finished hides from US tanners, traders and packers showed a strong recovery in the first half of 2021.
In total, the US exported 17.6 million hides between January and June, bringing in revenues of $654.4 million. These figures represent growth of just under 65% in volume and of 51.4% in value compared to the first six months of last year.
Of the hides shipped to overseas markets in the first half of this year, 15.5 million of them were wet salted, which brought in revenues of $440.8 million. Exports of wet-salted hides, therefore, showed growth of 69% in volume and of 59% in value.
For wet blue, the volume exported was just under 2.1 million, bringing in revenues of $213.6 million, up by 40% and 38% respectively.
China was, by far, the biggest market for wet-salted hides, taking 9.2 million pieces over the six months, taking 60% of the total volume. China spent $272.6 million on these hides, almost 62% of the total. Year on year, Chinese tanners imported 49% more wet-salted hides from the US, paying 71% more for them.
In contrast, Vietnam took first place among the export markets for US wet blue. Just over 550,000 wet blue hides went from the US to Vietnam in the course of the six months, bringing in revenues of $58.8 million. This meant increases for Vietnam of 53% in volume and 47% in value.
The figures, released by the Leather and Hide Council of America, also showed very strong growth in hide exports from the US to Mexico. Mexico was the second-biggest market for wet-salted hides, with 3.3 million, and the fourth-biggest for wet blue, with just over 250,000 hides. These figures show growth in volume of 294% and of 729% respectively.
Average price for an exported, US wet-salted hide in the first half of this year was $28.44. The corresponding figure for wet blue was $102.20. In the first six months of 2020, the average prices were $30.13 for wet salted and $103.58.
Image: Tasman Leather Group.
