The first Leatherbiz Market Intelligence report of 2022 went live on January 11 and is available for subscribers to read in full.

In the exclusive Leather Pipeline part of the report, which examines issues affecting the global leather supply chain, we learn that an increase in covid-19 infections is “playing a significant role” in the leather pipeline at the start of this year.

It’s not so much the effect on current business activities, it says. It’s more that it makes planning for the weeks and months ahead very difficult.

Shipping problems remain and, although hide prices have steadily gone down since the summer, the cost of almost everything else is going up. Increased covid-19 cases may also lead to labour shortages in the near future.

Sounding a more optimistic note, the report also says there are grounds for confidence that things may improve as the year advances. Thanks to milder levels of illness among many of those testing positive for the omicron variant of covid-19 and the efficacy of vaccinations and other drugs that medical professionals can use to treat those affected, “there is a very good chance that we will be able to return to normality in the course of this year”.