Brazil: Finished leather exports keep rising
Finished leather exports showed good performance in the first quarter of 2002 compared with the same period in 2001 with a 66% increase in terms of volume (total exported was 640,583 hides) and 69% rise in value bringing revenue of $59.2 million.
According to Andre Mauricio dos Santos, economic analyst at AICSul (the Association of the Tanning Industry of the State of Rio Grande do Sul) the result shows that despite the drop experienced in international leather prices Brazilian finished leather is managing to strengthen its position in the global market.
When compared with the first quarter of 2001, Brazilian exports of wet-salted hides increased by 51% in terms of volume and revenue. Wet blue exports increased in volume by 17% but in terms of value dropped by 10%. Crust exports fell both in value (-33%) and in volume (-62%).
Brazilian leather exports to China grew by an amazing 306% in volume and 129% in revenue but Italy remains the most important market with an increase of 49% in leather purchases from Brazil.
