Raw materials


Colorado steers 60 –


50 – 40 – 30 – 20 – 10 – 0


1020304050 Weeks


Dairy cows 45 –


35 –


2021 2022 2023


25 – 15 – 5 – 0


1020304050 Weeks


Heavy native heifers 50 –


40 –


2021 2022 2023


30 – 20 – 10 – 0


1020304050 Weeks


Heavy native cows 40 –


30 –


2021 2022 2023


20 –


Economic issues persist though many maintain being well sold Remarkably, throughout the autumn, producers continued to maintain that they were well sold. As most others said, higher prices and strong positions were not likely given the mess of economic issues that continue to trouble the US and other countries. In the US, the United Auto Workers’ strike against the Big Three Detroit car manufacturers had not yet dented the auto leather market. It’s never easy to suss out why hide customers are buying, but when it comes to steer hides for footwear, a great influx of orders was not the reason Chinese customers kept purchasing. Sources in China report that shoe upper leather orders are very bad and that footwear orders overall remain poor for the domestic market as well as for export. The country’s footwear exports have been declining in the past several months. Consequently, Chinese tannery purchasing is being driven by low US hide prices, not better orders. Compared with footwear orders, upholstery and car interior leather demand is better.


10 – 0 – 0


1020304050 Weeks


In the US, market analysis firm Circana forecasted a glum holiday season for the sector. Footwear may not get a boost from holiday sales, but even if there is one, it wouldn’t be enough to offset the overall decline for the quarter. In addition, 2024 footwear dollar and unit sales are expected to be flat. In mid-October, steer prices were still under pressure while the cow market was stubbornly steady. If autumn sales were truly being driven by price and not need, the upcoming season of selling winter hides could turn out to be problematic if there is no increase in demand. ●


18 Leather International / www.leathermag.com


2021 2022 2023


Lineapelle. Both were counted as successes in terms of the attendance and exhibitor numbers; however, for raw material, they did nothing to fuel sellers’ hopes of market improvement. Not that either fair could have done much. Global footwear demand is far too low and no magical bump could come from the fairs. Instead, Lineapelle in mid-September confirmed the wariness and concern of the hide market.


Essentially nothing changed for weeks as branded material became harder to sell at steady prices. Cow sellers, who got a price bump from the Shanghai show, watched levels stagnate as sales continued to be steady for at least six weeks with no prospect of moving higher.


As in other hide-producing regions of the globe, quality US material had a market while lesser selections struggled to find sales. In fact, in the US, some sources have started to consider whether alternative uses could create a decent market for lower-grade materials.


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