Leather exports from the US showed an increase of 21.1% during the first nine months of 2004 against the same period of last year. Cattlehide exports, on the other hand, showed a decline in exports of 49.1% compared with the first nine months of 2003.

The top ten buyers of US-tanned leather (for the nine month period) included Mexico which spent $447,367,750, an increase of  52.3% over the same period last year; Hong Kong, $142,545,600 over 2003, a gain of 28.6%; Japan, $129,742,289, an increase of 12.5%; Italy, which was the fourth largest purchaser of leather actually bought less, spending $68,818,525, a decline of 28.6%; China, $65,320,401, an increase of 35%; Taiwan, like Italy, bought less, but remained at number six, spending $37,257,588, a decline of 31.5%; Dominican Republic, $28,330770, an increase of 5.9%; Canada, $23,560,195, an increase of 17.4%; Korea, $22,171,304, a decline of 37.3%; and Thailand, which bought more leather in the first nine months of 2004 than all of 2003, spent $13,017,508, an increase of 67.1%;

The largest increase in US leather purchasing was made by The Netherlands. Although the total was small, only $1,868,961, the increase over the same period last year was 346.3%. South Africa, with an increase of 280.2% and Indonesia with an increase of 278.3% were also expanding markets for US tanners.

The total leather exports for the first nine months of 2004 amounted to $1,028,896,685, an increase of 21.1% over 2003.

Cattlehide exports for the first nine months of 2004 as against the same period of 2003, showed a large decline over the same period last year. The top ten buyers by volume were: China, 5,075,294 pieces, an increase of 32.2%; Korea, which was less active, took 3,152,257 pieces, a decline of 15.8%; Hong Kong, 1,466,554 pieces, a decrease of 26.1%; Taiwan 1,394,357 pieces, a decline of 12.4%; Mexico, 1,189,012, up 15.9%; Thailand, 514,525, a drop of 16.9%; Italy, 319,388, a decline of 52.1%; Japan, 314,262, a decline of 515%; Canada, 288,263, a loss of 38.2%; and Brazil, 84,951, a drop of 45.2%.

The largest increase went to South Africa, which purchased 66,704 pieces, an increase of 8,938.5% over the 738 pieces it bought last year. Overall, the US exported 14,144,984 hides.

 

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