Official figures from the Leather and Hide Council of America show total hide export volumes for the first two months of this of just over 4.3 million pieces. This represents a decline of 8.7% compared to the same months last year. By Leatherbiz.

In January and February 2024, the total was made up of 3.7 million wet-salted hides, down by 13% year on year, and of 652,335 wet blue hides. The figure for wet blue represents an increase of 26% in volume.

In value terms, the 2024 hide exports so far have brought in $178.5 million, down by 3.9% year on year. However, the value of this year’s wet blue exports so far is up by 12% to reach $62.2 million.

But across the two months, the average export price of US wet-salted hides is up 2.3% to reach $31.38 this year, while wet blue prices are down by 10.4%, reaching $95.38 per piece.