Released on Thursday May 23, the United States Department of Agriculture reported 326,149 pieces of wet blue were sold in the week to May 16, jumping by 138% from the week prior. The sales were driven by demand from the footwear sector of the leather market.

Several sources reported the majority of the wet blue sales were at historically low price levels, which encouraged buyers to purchase large volumes. A US packer reported wet blue demand remained throughout the week to Thursday following the USDA report.

Also, Chinese tanners pressured cured hide prices downward for large-volume material on Thursday, but a few, small-volume steer hides traded sideways with last sold levels.

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