Hide Market

U.S. Steer and Heifer hide prices took another hit last week.  The fact that the market was coming off three straight weeks of poor export sales as reported by the USDA, coupled with the persistent problems of tanners in Asia were the reasons for the market weakness.  There were reports that leather orders have improved a little during July compared to June, but they could not counteract all the negatives for tanners.  Those negatives reported by tanners, included that their leather prices are a … [Read more...] about The Hide Market Report – July 25, 2016

  Sales of U.S. hides, skins, and wet blues, were limited last week.  It was expected to be a slow week for sales not only because it was a U.S. National holiday shortened week, but also because  suppliers and buyers came into last week at a standoff on what U.S. raw material prices should be.  As the week progressed there was some business put together, but for the most part, the standoff between buyers and sellers continued.  The majority of the tanners in Asia were singing the same … [Read more...] about The Hide Market Report – July 11, 2016

  Tanners really bowed their necks last week refusing to pay U.S. hide and wet blue suppliers their asking prices, even though asking prices were essentially unchanged from the week prior.  Tanners reiterated what they had been saying for some time, that the leather business does not justify the higher hide prices being paid in the market.  They said that leather orders are not comparable with a year ago, neither in volume nor price level.  The split market continues to be weak and the … [Read more...] about The Hide Market Report – 7/4/2016

THE HIDE MARKET – JUNE 27, 2016 Things slowed somewhat last week in the U.S. hide market.  That had to be expected after the reported pace of business the previous two weeks.  Even with the decline in the number of hides and wet blues booked, sellers were by week’s end, able to keep their sale prices steady and in some cases and on some selections to push their sale prices a little higher.  Still, the complaints by many tanners around the world continued to be lackluster leather orders, little … [Read more...] about The Hide Market Report – June 27, 2016

  Last week was a big one for U.S. Cattle hide and wet blue producers and sellers.  It seemed as if tanners, mainly in Asia, finally came to the conclusion that U.S. hide prices were not going to soften in the near term. They felt that they had better enter the market now or pay more for any U.S. raw material they will need in the near future.  The biggest indicator of a firm U.S. hide market were the well sold-ahead positions of many suppliers, which was indicated by the offering lists … [Read more...] about Hide Market Report – 6/23/2016

  The question in our last week’s Market Report was, “would tanners follow the higher asking prices that we expected would be put forward by U.S. Steer hide sellers”?  The answer was yes.  Tanners did come into the market and did buy a good number of Steer hides, and they did pay more for some selections.  A few sales were reported as much as $ 1.00 higher than the previous week’s prices levels.  We felt like at least a week’s production of Steer hides were traded last week.  With many … [Read more...] about The Hide Market Report – June 13, 2016

  Last week was shortened by a holiday, but there was a good deal of business put on the books by U.S. raw hide and wet blue suppliers by week’s end.  Of course, China was the primary destination for product sold for export, but tanners in Korea, Japan, Mexico and Indonesia were also noticeably active in the market.  Asia tanners continued last week to say that their finished leather business remained slow and that drop split prices, which were already low, weakened again.  In spite of … [Read more...] about The Hide Market Report – June 6, 2016

THE HIDE MARKET – MAY 30, 2016 Enough U.S. Steer hides were sold last week to keep suppliers in well sold ahead positions on all of their Steer hide selections.  In the process sales prices on all the Steer hides moved higher. Heavy Native Steer hides sold up at least $1.00 while Butt Branded Steer hides were reported to have sold at levels that were up by as much as $2.00 per piece.  The Heavy Texas Steer hide value, which has been hard to determine over the last few months, had sales reported … [Read more...] about The Hide Market Report – May 30, 2016

Steady as you go!  That would be the only way to describe U.S. Steer Hide Market last week, as prices for all of the Steer hide selections were unchanged.  Of course, there were some sales reported that were up or down a little from previous levels, but they were exceptions to the rule.  For example some seasonal average weight Heavy Texas Steer hides were reported to have sold up $1.00 per hide.    So, let’s call last week's trading levels for seasonal average Big Packer Heavy Native Steer … [Read more...] about The Hide Market Report – May 23, 2016

  Things started slowly last week for the U.S. Hide Market with suppliers asking higher prices, especially for their Steer hide selections, and buyers making bids that were below last traded levels. By the time Thursday rolled around tanners bids started to came closer to what hide sellers were asking, and trades began coming together.  Friday's business was more of the same, with basically all steer hide selections trading at prices that were either steady with their previous levels or … [Read more...] about The Hide Market Report – May 16, 2016