Hides shortage hits furniture producers

5 December 2007


The shortage in Argentina is related to a governmental limitation on the export of beef in an attempt to keep food prices low for citizens, said Chris Thomas, a vice president of sales for Universal Leather. ‘Less beef being exported means less hides being exported, as well,’ Thomas said. Universal Leather has been minimally affected because of a partnership with a large family tannery in Argentina, he said. Meanwhile, some Chinese tanneries have gone out of business rather than meet stricter government environmental standards. A death sentence is now a possibility for some of the worse polluters. ‘Adding to the price mix is that only about 7% of leather is used in upholstery furniture compared with 70% for shoes and 13% for automotive,’ Thomas said. ‘As you see more Chinese drivers, the demand for leather is only going to get tighter.’ Source: Winston-Salem Journal



Privacy Policy
We have updated our privacy policy. In the latest update it explains what cookies are and how we use them on our site. To learn more about cookies and their benefits, please view our privacy policy. Please be aware that parts of this site will not function correctly if you disable cookies. By continuing to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies in accordance with our privacy policy unless you have disabled them.