CHENNAI LEATHER MARKET
V. M. Khaleelur Rahman
Activities
in Chennai leather market have not undergone any big changes. The situation is
almost the same and tanners are not happy at all as selling is not easy and
making money is a Himalayan task. Only
higher grades find buyers and not lower selections.
Big shoe
manufacturers are interested in higher grades of tanned goat skins. Some
tanners have sold 5/6 sq. ft. Fifths and Inf. Fifths at around Rs.75 and 65 per
sq. ft. respectively whereas R/V/IF/LIF combined in 4/6 sq. ft. has been sold
at around Rs.58 per sq. ft.
As far as
shoe suede is concerned, there is no much demand. It is reported that some
tanners have sold this item at around Rs.43 per sq. ft. Local Rejection and
Langda are not moving easily. Prices obtained for them are just Rs.13 and 10
per sq. ft. respectively. Raw skin prices are erratic everywhere in the
country. There is no interest for lower selections at all. It is reported that
in some centres unsalable rejection raw skins are simply buried.
Quotations of
tanners
E.I. Tanned
Goat Skins
Grain
selection: 5/7 sq. ft. Run Rs.90, Fifths Rs.75, Inf. Fifths Rs.65 and LIF Rs.55
Suede
Selection: 4/6 sq. ft. Rs.42
Lining
Selection: 5/7 sq. ft. Rs.40 and 4/6 sq. ft. Rs.36
Mesh
selection: 5/8 sq. ft. Rs.31
All prices
are per sq. ft.
Export Contracts
Some reputed
exporters continue to sell their upper and lining leathers at around US $ 2.25
and 1.65 per sq. ft. respectively. But here again business is limited. One or two Japanese
customers buy F/C sheep leather Rejection at around Japanese Yen 100 per sq. ft. This
business is also not regular.
Quotations
of Exporters
F/C sheep leather
4/6 sq. ft.
All Suede JY 190, LIF Suede JY 160 and Rejection Suede JY 110
6/9 sq. ft.
All Suede JY 200, LIF Suede JY 170 and Rejection Suede JY120 per sq. ft.
S/C OR F/C GOAT
LEATHERS
Material
|
Size/sq. ft.
|
Substance
|
Selection
|
Price US$ per sq. ft. C&F
|
Goat upper leather
|
4/7
|
0.6/0.8 mm
|
ABC
|
2.25
|
Goat milled leather
|
4/7
|
0.6/0.8 mm
|
TR-1
|
1.70
|
Goat suede leather
|
4/6
|
0.6/0.8 mm
|
All Suede
|
1.85
|
Goat lining leather
|
4/7
|
0.5/0.7 mm
|
TR-1
|
1.65
|
6/9
|
0.6/0.8 mm
|
TR-1
|
1.75
|
F/C SHEEP LEATHERS
Material
|
Size/sq.ft.
|
Substance
|
Selection
|
Price US$
per sq. ft. C&F
|
Sheep
Cabretta leather
|
4/7
|
0.6/0.8 mm
|
ABC
|
2.00
|
Sheep
Cabretta leather
|
6/9
|
0.8/1.00
mm
|
ABC
|
2.10
|
Sheep
lining leather
|
4/7
5/8
|
0.5/0.7 mm
0.6/0.8 mm
|
TR-1
TR-1
|
1.65
1.75
|
Hong Kong Leather Fair 2018
According to
reports available here from exporters who visited the Asia Pacific Leather Fair
held in the middle of March 2018, it was disappointing. Overseas customers were
“pick and choose” in their business as they are having huge stocks of unsold
tanned and finished hides and skins. Only heavy weights and better grades were
of interest to them. Buffalo calf and cow calf exporters were able to sell
their quality leathers at around US$ 3.00 per sq. ft. Goat upper and lining
exporters fetched some business at unchanged prices quoted above. However some
reputed exporters might have sold even at higher prices but exact reports are
not available. The undeniable fact is that the leather trade is passing through
a difficult period and tanners are in a tight corner not knowing how to manage
their business.
(Writer’s
e-mail id: vmk1234@yahoo.com)
