Vietnam and China drive US wet blue growth
Tanners, traders and packers in the US exported 17.6 million hides in the first eight months of this year, a decline of 8.4% year on year.
In terms of value, hide exports brought in more than $715 million between January and August this year, down by 4.8% year on year.
While shipments of wet-salted hides fell by 12% in volume and by 15% in value, to 14.8 million pieces and $441.1 million, over the eight-month period, wet blue exports continued to grow.
Between January and August 2024, the US exported 2.8 million wet blue hides, bringing in $274.5 million. These figures represent increases of 15% in volume and 17% in value year on year.
Shipments to Vietnam were up by 70% in volume compared to last year, reaching more than 870,000 pieces, with a value that was 77% higher at $95.5 million.
Wet blue exports to China were up by 17% in volume and 31% in value, reaching 638,000 hides and revenues of $59.6 million.
