Despite members of the industry voicing concerns late last year that leather production was likely to fall due to a decline in beef consumption (see www.leatherbiz.com November 12, 2007), their fears have not yet been proved valid as exports continue to climb.

According to the Association of Tannery Industries of Rio Grande do Sul (AICSul), leather exports reached $183 million in January, 4% higher than the same month in 2007. This, in part at least, reflects the industry’s move to higher added-value products as wet blue exports actually declined to 939,000 pieces, down from 1.6 million pieces in January last year.

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