Based in Graulhet, France, since 1936, the Hiriar company bears witness to nearly 85 years of experience in the hide and skins trade, writes Emma Roesslinger of Leather Fashion Design.  More specifically, its services revolve around three types of activities: the sale of finished leather; the marketing of unfinished hides and that of chemicals and plants used for tanning (extracts of quebracho, mimosa, chestnut, and so on.

This year has been one hell of a roller coaster for hide prices. We entered 2020 in a buoyant mood, with renewed optimism that followed two years of flat leather sales and decreasing cured and wet-blue prices. The thinking was that maybe a corner had been turned, writes theSauerReport Editor Ian Banks.

There are very few positives to draw from the world Covid-19 problems, but perhaps one piece of good news for the hide industry is that after a long-time demand is outstripping supply. Slaughter rates in almost all origins are well below the normal levels, latest insights from theSauerReport reveal.

From June 24, for 60 days, tariffs on the export of hides were suspended in Argentina. After this difficult period, due to the pandemic, the taxes will return to regular levels, reports LeatherInsiders.

The latest weekly cattle slaughter figures in the U.S. showed that over 636,000 head was reached in early June and the upcoming weekly cull figure is expected to be over 650,000 head according to USDA figures. With this increase comes the moment that many analysts in the hide and skin business had been expecting and will have an impact on raw materials prices.