Wet blue increases continue for the US
Figures from the Leather and Hide Council of America show that tanners, packers and traders in the US exported 15.4 million hides in the first seven months of this year. This represents a decline of 8.2% year on year.
In terms of value, hide exports in the January-July 2024 period brought in $629.1 million, down by 3.7% compared to the same period last year.
This year so far, the US has shipped 12.9 million wet-salted hides to tanners around the world, in exchange for $389.2 million, falls of 12% in volume and of 14% in value.
However, when it comes to wet blue, the total for the first seven months of this year was just under 2.5 million, with a combined value of almost $240 million. These figure represent increases of 17% in volume and of 20% in financial terms.
At the end of the first seven months of this year, wet-salted hides had an average export price of $30.07 per piece, compared to $30.91 in the same period last year.
For wet blue, the average price is $97.12 in 2024, compared to $95.19 in 2023.
