Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, announced on July 29 sales of CHF 1.894 billion in the second quarter 2010, compared to CHF 1.609 billion in the previous year. Sales increased 18% in Swiss Francs and 20% in local currency. (CHF1.04 = $1.0). The newly formed Leather Services Business unit grew above group average.

On July 24, Ambur Open, a 2-day exhibition of footwear components, accessories and finished leather was inaugurated. The event took place at the newly built Ambur Trade Centre, Ambur and is about 3 hours from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Many large tanneries are located in the area. 120 companies exhibited in the first Ambur Open event.

Fuxin Leather Production Base is a newly established leather processing centre located in Liaoning province, Northern China. The local authority plan to build a modern leather complex for northern China.

Clariant will show their cutting-edge performance- and ecology-focused technologies and product innovations on show at the 2010 All China Leather Exhibition in Shanghai. The show takes place September 1-3.

The 113^th edition of the UK Society of Leather Technologists and Chemists annual conference and dinner is set to take place at Tankersley Manor, Bamsley, South Yorkshire. The event will take place on September 25 and accommodation can be booked directly with the venue quoting the SLTC.

French luxury goods giant LVMH on July 27 reported a 53% jump in first half net profit on the back of better-than-expected sales and predicted a sound showing in the second half. The group is a significant buyer of leather for leathergoods and footwear.

The German specialty chemicals group LANXESS are one of the leading manufacturers of leather chemicals worldwide. On their website the company are now offering a sneak preview of the leather trends for autumn/winter 2011/2012.

In an announcement issued by Economic and Trade Commission in Fujian province, five tanneries in Fuzhou city with annual production below 20,000 pieces of standard cattle equivalent are included in the list of enterprises to face closure.

Insurers acting for UK retailer Argos have launched a £13 million ($19.4 million) lawsuit against a Northamptonshire leather company in a dispute over the so-called toxic sofas imported from China.

Indonesia’s footwear industry has won an investment of US$550m from six Taiwanese and South Korean footwear manufacturers who are relocating their plants from China and Vietnam, according to the Indonesian Shoes Association (Aprisindo).

Hermes, the French maker of luxury leather handbags and silk scarves, raised its 2010 revenue forecast after second-quarter sales increased faster than analysts estimated on demand in Asia.