Around 70 delegates, mainly representing leather end-users, attended the half-day Effective Leather Sourcing conference on March 30 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre prior to the APLF. The conference was organised by BLC Leather Technology Centre and aimed to bring the buyers up to speed with the latest products, testing methods and legislation to assist them achieve good leather sourcing practice in the future.

There is much inaccurate information in circulation regarding the use of chromium salts and their associated safety for the tanning of leather.

From a total headcount reduction of 545 in Germany originally announced last February, Leather International can confirm that only nine posts have been lost from the company’s leather division based in Geretsried. DyStar acquired the company formerly known as Dr Boehme who were located in Geretsried and merged it into their leather chemicals division in August 2006. In a general statement from the company they said the following:

Overall leather production in Japan was looking as if it was going to be similar to 2007 levels but tailed off by a third in some sectors from October last year, according to the Tanners’ Council of Japan. Total production of finished leather in 2008 was almost the same as 2007 due to a high demand for automotive leather. However, the overall domestic consumption in non-upholstery had been decreasing throughout the year and tailed off steeply in October as demand for automotive and furniture leather fell.

According to a report issued by the German Leather Federation given at the International Council of Tanners (ICT) meeting in Hong Kong on March 30, tannery output dropped 14.7% (by turnover) in 2008. The figure was €409 million compared with €480 million in 2007.

The Chinese Leather Industry Association reports that leather garment exports in the first two months of the year came to 1.7 million pieces worth US$88 million. These figures represent a 44.6% drop in volume and 26% in value on the results of last year during the same period. Handbag and travel good exports showed a decline of 7.3% during the period.

Figures released by the German Leather Federation underline the difficult situation facing the automotive upholstery leather business at the moment. The knock-on effect of reduced car production is really hitting upholstery tanners the hardest.