Good meat figures mask leather performance
14/08/2007
Economists in Brazil believe meat, principally beef, may be on the verge of regaining its place as the country’s most important export, replacing soya [see separate story].
However, recent figures also indicate a drop of 11% over the first seven months of the year in the value of leather, leathergoods and footwear exports.
The meat industry is still producing the hides, and the figures for the months ahead could improve, reflecting greater availability of hides to Brazilian tanners.
But the numbers could also be confirmation of anecdotal evidence in the Brazilian leather industry that more and more local hides are being exported as wet blue, with local tanneries and leathergoods and footwear manufacturers receiving little opportunity to add value.
