According to the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) despite having reported record leather exports in 2007, production is set to fall by between 5% and 10% in 2008 due to lower beef consumption.

Commenting on the prospects of the industry next year, managing director of CICB, Luiz Augusto Bittencourt, said that although the demand for leather is increasing as people are now eating less beef, the availability of raw material will inevitably keep falling??and as a result he estimates that only 40 million cattle will be slaughtered in 2008, three million fewer than this year.

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