Prices were unable to benefit much this week, but some grades are still adding a fraction here and there. Superficially, everything looks fine but it is still hard to find anyone who is really happy as far as business is concerned. Taking a closer look, it is rather worrying and it is mainly those who have been in the business a long time that are the most concerned. The tanning industry is not prepared for the raw material levels we have reached and those with longer serving memories are the most worried. Others are more positive and explain that time has changed with new markets developing and a rock solid global economy. For these, the focus on the ‘old economies’ is the reason for such concerns and they believe that looking at the situation from a wider perspective helps to provide an explanation for the present situation. No matter who is right, high price levels have always weighed heavily on margins in the industry and this has never been without consequences.

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