Monday, March 3, 2014

29TH INDIA INTERNATIONAL LEATHER FAIR 2014- WELL ORGANISED AND HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL



29TH IILF 2014 – WELL ORGANISED AND HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL
V. M. Khaleelur Rahman
The 29th India International Leather Fair (IILF) 2014 inaugurated by the Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Dr. EM Sudarshana Nachiappan, the Chief Guest, on 31st January and held from 1st to 3rd February 2014 at Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai was well organized and well attended by 385 exhibitors including 92 from overseas representing 18 countries and with 4 country pavilions by Germany, Italy, France and Thailand and quite a large number of business visitors, officials and others. This joint endeavour of ITPO, CLE and CSIR-CLRI was highly successful. 

As rightly pointed out by Shri Malay Shrivastava, Executive Director, India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) in his welcome address, the fair was an occasion to compliment the Indian leather industry for its constant positive growth and for building “Brand India” globally. The ITPO plays the role of a Catalyst by organizing the event. It is now well established in the international calendar of global fairs.  
The Chief Guest distributed the CLE’s Export Excellence Awards and Special Awards to the winners and assured the industry that its demands would be considered favourably. He had all appreciation for the TNTPO for its effective role in popularizing the name of the Chennai Trade Centre. He assured that it would be further modernized with additional facilities. 

Addressing the international audience the Hon’ble Minister said that there were huge opportunities in India for investment and also for technology transfer as well as manufacturing. He stressed that Design was an area of focus for the Government and they were ready to support private sector endeavours in knowledge excellence and research in Design. He also stated that ethnic designs from India need to be commercially exploited. 

He further said that there was a need for more young entrepreneurs and women entering into this sector and expressed his happiness that the industry was marching ahead. 

Shri RK Jalan, Chairman, CLE, announced that the current year had been very good for the Indian leather industry with an all time export high of US$ 5 billion with a positive growth of 17%. He said that this was possible because of the innovative schemes and policies of the Government of India. He appealed to the Government for support especially under the Environment Protection Schemes for the up-gradation of the CETP’s set up for achieving the ZLD norms. He committed that the industry would share the costs with the Government. He stressed on the need to create additional capacities and said that new “Greenfield Clusters” needed to be fast tracked. 

Shri N. Shafeeque Ahmed, Vice Chairman, CLE and Shri PR Aqeel Ahmed, Regional Chairman (SR), CLE, also spoke on the occasion congratulating the Award winners and wishing all success to all participants of IILF 2014. 

Some of the new overseas participants were happy in participating in this event as they had the opportunity in meeting so many industrialists and promoting their products.  
However there was a feeling among a section of the industry that the inaugural function should have been telecast live and conducted in a better manner highlighting the importance of the Indian leather industry. 

LEATHER MARKET

In the Chennai local market, prices for tanned goat skins are ruling almost the same or slightly higher. There were reports of business at around the following prices:

4/6 sq. ft. grain selection, RVIF Rs.65, Lining Rs.46, 5/8 sq. ft. Lining Rs.50 per sq. ft.
4/6 sq. ft. All Suede Rs.50 per sq. ft.
F/C Suede 4/6 sq. ft. ABC Rs.70 per sq. ft.
Tanners are quoting at around Rs.100/80/70/60 per sq. ft. for 5/8 Run/V/IF/LIF. 

As far as raw goat skins are concerned, the prices are as follows:

Miraj areas around Rs.250 per piece for 5 sq. ft. and up average and Rs.200 per piece for 4/4.5 sq.ft. average.
Andhra areas around Rs.170 per piece
As regards Red hair raw sheep skins, the ruling prices are around Rs.250 to 300 per piece depending on size and quality. In areas like Kadapa where the yield is 5.5 sq. ft and up the price is around Rs.300 per piece. 

OVERSEAS MARKET

There seems to be no big change in the overseas market. Some business are reported in S/C and F/C goat lining leather at around US$1.60 per sq. ft. Some Korean and Italian customers were also in Chennai during last month and they have concluded some good contracts. 

Exporters are quoting at around the following prices:
                                        F/C AND S/C GOAT LEATHERS
Material
Size/sq. ft.
Substance
Selection
Price US$ per sq. ft. C&F
Goat upper leather
3/5 or 4/7
0.6/0.8 mm
ABC  40/40/20%
2.75
Goat milled leather
4/7
0.6/0.8 mm
E/D -50/50%
1.70
Goat suede leather
4/7
0.6/0.8 mm
All Suede
2.25
Goat lining leather

4/7
0.5/0.7 mm
TR Lining
1.60
6/9
0.6/0.8 mm
TR Lining
1.70
                                               F/C SHEEP LEATHERS
Material
Size/sq.ft.
Substance
Selection
Price US$ per sq. ft. C&F
Sheep Nappa leather
5/8
0.6/0.8 mm
ABC
3.00
Sheep Cabretta
4/7
0.6/0.8 mm
ABC
2.75
Sheep lining leather
4/7
0.5/0.7 mm
TR-1
1.80
Sheep lining leather
5/8
0.6/0.8 mm
TR-1
 1.90

TANNERIES REOPOEN IN AMBUR 

The good news to the leather industry here and abroad is that the tanneries closed some three months ago in the Thuthipet area of Ambur due to effluent problem have started reopening thanks to the efforts taken by the Amburtec – the common effluent treatment plant for tanneries. It is a big relief to all sections of the people in the industry, particularly workers and staff. It is learnt that tanners are taking all precautionary measures to see that nothing goes wrong. All’s well that ends well. 

(VMK in Indian Leather, March 2014)
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