Chinese tanners continued to push for further hide price decreases due to high inventories of raw hides, wet blue and finished leather.

Argentina
Hide demand in Argentina was firm during the week to Thursday May 16.

A source reported that Argentinean cured steer hides were sold to Asian buyers for $12-$16 per piece CNF.

Brazil
Prices for wet blue full substance TR1 heavy hides from the state of Mato Grosso traded around $0.70-0.72 per square foot.

Mato Grosso had high temperatures at the start of May, roughly 35 degrees Celsius (95 degree Fahrenheit), with severe flooding in southern Brazil forcing pork and poultry plants to halt operations, but cattle slaughter plants remained unaffected.

Paraguay
Cattle slaughter volumes were strong at the Mennonites Cooperatives frigorifico, driven by the bonus incentive the members receive at…