We published the most recent Leatherbiz Market Intelligence newsletter on December 3. By Leatherbiz.

Its main message is that expectations of structural change in the leather industry are well founded. The newsletter said it preferred to avoid taking part in “rumours and speculation in individual cases”, but said the signs were clear that change was coming.

Structural change will affect companies in many industries, including automotive, a sector in which a shake-up appears to be under way already. But it said many consumer goods sectors will be affected.

If threats of increased tariffs on goods exported to the US come to pass, and exporters respond in kind with regard to products coming from the US, it said there will be “a burden on entire supply chains”.

And because beef, hides and chemicals are likely to be caught up in this, there is certain to be an impact on the leather supply chain too.