A couple of months ago Leather International published (April edition page 4) a very significant and welcome observation from Farrukh Hussein Sheikh, one of the directors of the prestigious Mima Leather Group in Pakistan. Farrukh observed in his comments that it was incredible that (Pakistani) tanners were still waiting for freebies from governments and international organisations to buy equipment. He wondered how an industrialist could actually act as and call themselves industrialists when they feel they should depend on handouts from others. That is very interesting and I share Farrukh’s view completely.

Having lived in China for 14 years, there's one word that can best be used to summarise this experience and that's.... change. There's been a change from being a welcomed exporter to now, a welcomed importer. Entrepreneurs have been given tax and duty free rewards for their exporting. Now we see there is an almost equal emphasis on how much they can import.

The ACLE, the leather industry’s premier show for the Chinese market, is upon us again. Since the ACLE first took place, at the end of the 1990s China has become a major consumer market and continues to be the largest producer of leather and leather products in the world. However, as the 1960s Bob Dylan song goes, ‘the times they are a-changing.’

This entire text and more all lead to this conclusion: All the time the new rich in Asia, in Russia, in South America and we ourselves in the West keep buying more leather products but not meat, we are pushing leather prices higher!
The very strong sales of German top class cars to China have already had their influence on bull hide prices. In North Germany, heavy bulls prices are 10 cents up. In South Germany prices were fixed till early August but one should expect a 10 cents increase also.

Clariant, the Swiss leather chemical maker, took a step back in 2005 to offer N-Methylpyrrolidone-free (NMP-free) finishing products to the leather industry. This has ensured that its customers are well prepared for the December 2010 introduction of binding European Union (EU) legislation regarding the use of the solvent in leather the company said in a statement released on August 18.

The IULTCS announced on August 16 the addition of LASRA to the International Union and welcome the Director of LASRA, Dr Warren G. Bryson, to the executive committee.

Smit & Zoon and their new subsidiary, Smit Finishing have prepared a selection of leathers to be shown at the 2010 ACLE leather fair, Shanghai.

Large India group, Tata have announced a rise in profits thanks to improving sales in its automotive division, Tata Motors. The group are also a major manufacturer of leather and leather products in India. Indian benchmark indices edged higher at the onset of the trading session, driven by a solid surge in shares of commercial vehicles major Tata Motors triggered by turnaround Q1 June 2010 results. Tata Motors share price jumped close to 6% on extending August 10. The group acquired the Land Rover and Jaguar brands from Ford which helped lift sales.

Good sales performance in emerging markets have led to Lanxess, the German specialty chemicals company, to lift their full year outlook they reported on August 6. The leather business unit performed well within the Performance Chemicals segment. Second-quarter net profit hit euro 131 million up from euro 17 million last year. Q2 sales rose to euro 1.83 billion. Full year forecasts have been adjusted to euro 800 million up from an original range of between euro 650-700 million. Demand from markets in Asia and Latin America helped lift profits.

According to the China Leather Industry Association's latest data released. The total production value in the leather sector surged 25.4% in the first half to 325.5 billion yuan from previous year, 18.2% points higher than last year.

A leather conservationist requires leather samples to assist with their research project on acid-deterioration in leather. Can you help?

Oropon M-range: Oropon MS gran (for soft leather types) and Oropon MT gran (for firm leather types) are bating agents that optimise cutting yield. These newly released pancreatic enzymes are formulated as granules, which are safe to handle, gently slacken the hide structure and allow deep bating without loosening the grain. They are specially designed to optimise the area yield whilst keeping the grain fine and tight, even in the flanks.

The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) authorities, including the engineers from Lucknow, following the orders of the high court, raided and collected water samples at the three prominent tanneries in Jajmau, on August 4. The team also conducted a random checking of five other tanneries in Jajmau.

America based leathergoods maker, Coach reported better-than-expected quarterly sales and earnings on strong demand for its less expensive Poppy handbag line and rapid growth in China, sending its shares higher. Lower leather costs helped the company to improve their margins in the last fiscal year which ended July 3.