The busiest time of the year

We are currently in the middle of the busiest time of the year and at the time of writing, the Bologna Fair is fast approaching. Everyone is very active in their warehouses and, according to all reports, hides are moving as soon as they are ready. Demand from croupon cutters remains firm, but it will be interesting to see if this demand continues when the dung season arrives. There were sporadic reports from tanners in early October that they had paid slightly lower prices for 36kg+ but sellers were adamant that they had not taken lower prices. It is suspected that tanners have booked hides for late November but a stand on price had been paid for prompt shipment. In other words, both sides were telling their version of the truth. It is, of course, undeniable that tanners to a man are complaining that current high hide prices are causing them real pain. The bad news for the tanners is that underlying demand from China is still there despite the reported implementation of the new import duties. Discussions between the Department for Rural Affairs and UK wet-blue producers and hide salters continue regarding the movement of hides from animals that were born prior to 1996. These are known as older cattle destruction scheme (OCDS) hides and a resolution of the procedures required to be put in place to allow the hides onto the market may well be finalised by Christmas. Time will tell. Prices in early October were as follows: 36kg+ ……....................................................... 89p 31/35.5 ….....................................................…. 91p 26/30.5 ……................................................... £1.02 22/25.5 …...................................................… £1.10 Salted cows were sold at £26.50 per hide ex yard and the weight range of 31/35.5 did seem to be particularly vulnerable. Lambskin business was very difficult in early October and doubleface prices took a tumble. The Turkish tanners dropped their prices from £4.60 delivered to £4 in one week. The proportion of doubleface coming out of the kill fell from around 75% to around 55% and this allied to the fairly static fellmongering price of £2 ex yard for English fellmongering and £1.65 for Irish fellmongering pushed the green price back around 50/60p per skin. Some ewe skins sales were reported as low as £1 per skin ex yard.