Brazilian leather exports up, wet blue down
According to the trade body Secex, Brazilian bovine leather exports grew 2% in volume in March over February 2001, representing a massive 52% increase year on year.
Exports for the first quarter were up 22% to 4,943 million hides, worth US$ 216 million, though wet-blue exports fell 7% during the same period and were 3% down in March compared with February. (See separate leatherbiz.com story: Brazil’s leather industry counts the cost of duty evasion, 14.05.01).
Exports of crust continue to grow, with a 2% increase being recorded in March over February and an incredible 171% year-on-year increase being registered for the first quarter.
Finished leather exports meanwhile increased 35% in March over February, although aggregate figures for the first quarter still show a 20% drop in finished leather exports. Compared with March 2000, wet salted hide exports increased by almost 78% year on year.
