Meatco Okapuka back in profit

Namibia

Published: 28 May, 2008

Meatco Okapuka Tannery, Windhoek, Namibia, have become ‘a serious contender for South African hides', according to manager George Kotze. Last year, the tannery bought 50,000 hides in SA. In total, the tannery produced 260,000 wet-blue hides in 2007, absorbing almost all available Namibian hides.

The tannery has turned around from several years of losses up to the end of 2003 to ‘a healthy profit'. Explaining the recovery, he said ‘we changed the recipe and got some significant throughput.'

Meatco Okapuka export about 80% of their wet-blues, mostly to Italy. Most of the balance is sold to Nakara Leather Tanning and Processing.