The US tanning industry continues to struggle. While there have been no major closures in recent months, business is now a little lopsided. Not too many years ago, the U.S. exported some $20 million in whole hides to Mexico while Mexico exported some $20 million in leather to the U.S. By 2001, the US was exporting some $400 million in whole hides to Mexico, but Mexico exported $1.1 billion worth of leather to the U.S.
The major U.S tanners have plants overseas in China and in Mexico where they are producing much of their leather. It has to be this way, since production of leather footwear in the U.S. is small. However, much of the leather used in footwear made for U.S. firms offshore is still specified in the country.
The industry and its suppliers are now looking forward to the revised Global Sourcing show, which will be held alongside the Shoe Show in Las Vegas in July. With the demise of the Panamerican Leather Fair, tanners are looking for sources to market their wares and while they’re not expecting to sell tons of leather at Global Sourcing, they do expect to get some feel for the direction of the industry.
Tanners and other industry suppliers are also looking forward to the expanded Northwest Apparel and Footwear Materials Show in Portland, Oregon on September 24 and 25., where they expect to receive some important sampling on a full range of materials for footwear production.
