Prices for hides were flat-to-lower compared with previous trades. There was demand from buyers for the year’s best season hides at the All-China Leather Exhibition (ACLE), but were resistant to price increases.

Regular branded steer hides traded sideways at $21.50 per piece on Wednesday September 4 and regular weight heavy Texas steer hides were down by $2.50 per piece to $21.50 per piece. A packer reported a sale of premium-quality dairy steers at sideways prices as well.

Furniture upholstery and automotive tanners were the most active in the US hide market, but a few sellers noted interest for wet blue hides from footwear tanners. The major pain point for several sellers is depressed leather prices. The current price levels for finished leather weighed on buyers’ ability to pay above current market prices for hides.

Cured and wet blue export shipments by selected countries through August 22

Table 1

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