Romania's National Statistics Institute reports that Romania imported leather and leather products worth E1 billion in the first ten months of 2008, a year-on-year decrease of 1.5%.

Jordan's Department of Statistics reports that Jordan exported raw hides and skins, and leather, worth US$8.49 million in 2008, compared with US$7.73 million in 2007. Jordan imported hides and skins, and leather, worth US$624,694 in 2008, compared with US$610,593 in 2007.

Ukraine's State Statistics Committee reports that Ukraine exported leather and leather products worth US$360 million in 2008, a decrease of 8.9% compared with 2007. Of total exports, exports of raw leather were worth US$302 million, a year-on-year decrease of 11.7%.

Hungary's Central Statistical Office reports that the production of leather and leather products in Hungary in 2008 was 4.9% higher than in 2007.

Argentina's National Statistics Institute reports that Argentina exported leather and leather products worth US$1.01 billion in 2008, compared with US$1.14 billion in 2007. Within the overall export figure for 2008 were exports of raw hides and skins, and leather, worth US$906 million, a year-on-year decrease of 6.5%.

Montenegro's Statistical Office reports that the production of leather and leather products in Montenegro in 2008 was substantially higher than in 2007.

According to meatingplace.com, JBS-Swift & Co and National Beef have broken off talks with the US Justice Department over the merger of the two companies and will be moving forward as independent companies. The DOJ said it welcomed the decision: ‘Had the acquisition gone forward it would have combined two of the top four US beef packers resulting in lower prices paid to cattle suppliers and higher beef prices for consumers.

The leather industry in Myanmar is facing tough times as international demand slumps and prices plunge, according to a number of leather sellers in Mandalay. 
U Aik San, the owner of Sunshine leather shop in Mandalay, said wholesale leather prices have fallen by half. He blamed the collapse on the global financial crisis. ‘Leather prices have fallen by about 50% since the financial crisis began', he said.

All cattle and calves in the US and Canada combined totalled 107.7 million head on January 1, down 2 percent from a year ago, according to Statistics Canada and USDA. In a joint report, the agencies said all cows and heifers that have calved, at 46.6 million head, were down 2% from a year ago.

OK, no one will be asked to stand, but prime exhibition space is at a premium, while exhibitor numbers and pre-show buyer registrations are strong say the organizers. All in all APLF - Materials, Manufacturing & Technology (MM&T) and Fashion Access (FA) exhibitions, to be held in Hong Kong, March 31 - April 2, 2009, show encouraging signs ensuring that APLF will be the centre of attraction for all industry buyers and exhibitors alike.

The American Leather Chemists Association have announced that the spring meeting of their Research Liaison Committee will be held on Tuesday April 28 (beginning at 1pm) and Wednesday April 29, 2009 (finishing at 12 noon) at the Eastern Regional Research Center, Wyndmoor, PA.

Having suffered a massive loss in profits, following a four month strike by the unionized workforce, in July 2004, Bata Shoe Company of Ceylon Limited, Sri Lanka, have bounced back to profitability in 2008 under the managing director R J Mollo. In addition to the strike and the resulting severe losses, the company also suffered a fire which gutted a warehouse full of school shoes in preparation for the peak back-to-school sales period in December/January 2005.

Clariant have improved their operational performance and are strengthening their focus on cash generation and cost reduction. CEO Hariolf Kottmann commented: ‘Our company achieved an improved operating margin and a solid cash flow from operations in 2008 against the backdrop of a steep decline in demand in the last quarter.

Romania's National Statistics Institute reports that the production of leather and leather products in Romania in 2008 was 2.3% higher than in 2007. In comparison, industrial output in Romania last year was 0.9% higher.

Albania's Statistics Institute reports that Albania imported leather and leather products worth US$68.7 million in 2008, compared with imports worth US$77.8 million in 2007.

The Czech Statistical Office reports that the production of leather and leather products in the Czech Republic in 2008 was 6.5% lower than in 2007.

Latvia's Central Statistical Bureau reports that Latvia exported raw hides, and leather and leather products, worth US$26.3 million in 2008, of which 88% were delivered to EU countries. These commodities accounted for 0.3% of total Latvian exports last year.

Ireland's Central Statistical Office reports that the production of leather and leather products in Ireland in December 2008 was 9.2% lower than in the same month in 2007.

The production of leather products in Singapore in 2008 was 15.1% lower than in 2007, compared with the annual decrease in Singapore's manufacturing output of 4.1%, according to the Monthly Digest of Statistics Singapore, January 2009. Figures for 2008 are preliminary.

Slovakia's Statistical Office reports that the production of leather and leather products in the Slovak Republic in 2008 was 17.9% lower than in 2007.

On October, 11-14, 2009, the 30th IULTCS Global Congress will be held in Beijing, China. As the organiser of this event, China Leather Industry Association (CLIA) sincerely invites friends from all over the world to take part in and contribute to this great event.

An exclusive practical course designed for people working throughout the leather supply chain is set to take place from May 11-15 at the British School of Leather Technology (BSLT), run in partnership between The University of Northampton and Leather Wise Ltd.

Croatia's Central Bureau of Statistics reports that the average gross monthly wage in Croatia's leather industry in the first eleven months of 2008 was US$636, a year-on-year increase of 4.9%.

The Philippines National Statistics Office reports that the production of leather products in the Philippines in November 2008 was 8% lower than in October 2008 and 1.7% higher than in November 2007.

Ireland's Central Statistics Office reports that Ireland exported raw hides and skins worth E59.6 million in the first ten months of 2008, compared with exports worth E79.9 million in the same period in 2007.

Bulgaria's National Statistics Institute reports that the price of raw hides in Bulgaria in the third quarter of 2008 was 0.6% higher than in the same quarter in 2007. The price of cows was 3.9% higher year-on-year.

Macedonia's State Statistical Office reports that the production of leather and leather products in Macedonia in 2008 was 8.6% lower than in 2007. In comparison, industrial output in Macedonia in 2008 was 5.5% higher year-on-year. These figures are preliminary ones.

The Czech Statistical Office reports that the Czech Republic recorded a surplus of 43,281 tonnes in its international trade in live cattle in the period from December 1, 2007, to November 30, 2008.

Russia's Federal State Statistics Service reports that there were 21.1 million head of cattle in Russia on December 31, 2008, 2.6% fewer than on the same date in 2007, according to the Interfax news agency.

Ukraine's State Statistics Committee reports that sales of leather and leather products by manufacturers in Ukraine were worth US$252 million in 2008, compared with US$193 million in 2007.

Statistics Georgia reports that Georgia imported leather products worth US$11 million in 2008. Georgian exports of the same types of products in 2008 were worth just US$446,200.

Brazil's National Statistics Institute reports that the production of leather products in Brazil in the first eleven months of 2008 was 6.2% lower than in the same period in 2007.

Poland's Central Statistical Office reports that the production of cattle and calves for slaughter in Poland in 2008 was 5.1% higher in weight terms than in 2007.

Poland's Central Statistical Office reports that Poland produced 10.3 million pairs of footwear with leather uppers in 2008, a year-on-year decrease of 11.8%. Polish leather and leather products manufacturers saw their sales fall by 7.9% year-on-year.

Belarus' Ministry of Statistics reports that livestock production in Belarus in 2008 increased by 9.6% compared with the previous year, according to the Interfax news agency.

Ukraine's State Statistics Committee reports that there were 5.16 million head of cattle in Ukraine on January 1 this year, as compared with 6.09 million head on June 1, 2008, and 5.49 million head on January 1, 2008.

The Bosnian Serb Republic's Institute of Statistics reports that the production of leather and leather products in the Bosnian Serb Republic in 2008 was 10.1% lower than in 2007.

Kosovo's Statistics Office reports that Kosovo exported leather and leather products worth E289,000 in November 2008, compared with exports worth E459,000 in the same month in 2007.

The APLF organisers and Ron Sauer are proposing an informal conference/seminar on the current hide market crash. If sufficient interest is forthcoming it will be held on the morning of day three at the Hong Kong fair. So far interest has been expressed from the USA, India, Italy, France, Germany and South Africa.

In its monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, USDA noted fewer numbers of cattle are forecast to be placed on feed,

According to the Financial Times, the Kuwait Investment Authority would consider increasing their support for Dow Chemical's disputed takeover of Rohm and Haas if the terms of the deal were changed to account for the downturn.

Nike have teamed up with BLC Leather Technology Centre Ltd, the leather and footwear experts, to manage restricted substances in their supply chain. Following a multi-brand ESH/RSL Summit hosted by Nike, Levi & Strauss Co, New Balance and Columbia Sportswear on April 27 and 28, 2009, Nike and BLC will co-host a one day Leather Summit in Bangkok on Wednesday April 29, 2009, for Nike suppliers and associated brands.

Statistics Serbia reports that the production of leather and leather products in Serbia in 2008 was 2.7% lower than in 2007. In comparison, industrial output in Serbia in 2008 was 1.1% higher year-on-year.

Croatia's Central Bureau of Statistics reports that Croatia exported leather and leather products worth US$343 million in 2008, a year-on-year increase of 2.6%. Croatian leather and leather products imports in 2008 were 6.7% higher year-on-year at US$452 million.

Macedonia's State Statistical Office reports that the number of people employed in Macedonia's leather industry in 2008 was 1.8% lower than in 2007.

Hungary's Central Statistical Office reports that Hungary exported leather and leather products worth E118 million in the first eleven months of 2008, a year-on-year decrease of 8.4%.

Kosovo's Statistical Office reports that Kosovo exported leather and leather products worth E206,000 in December 2008, compared with E416,000 in the same month in 2007.

Turkey's State Statistics Institute reports that Turkey imported raw hides and skins, and leather, worth US$518 million in 2008, a year-on-year decrease of 15%. Turkey exported the same types of commodities worth US$121 million in 2008, a year-on-year increase of 0.8%.

Romania's National Statistics Institute reports that the average gross monthly wage in the Romanian leather industry in November 2008 was US$317, an increase of 0.2% as compared with October 2008.

Macao's Department of Statistics reports that Macao exported 674,305 kilos of raw hides and skins, and leather, worth US$3.62 million in 2008, as compared with exports of 726,640 kilos worth US$3.23 million in 2007.

It has come to the attention of the IUL commission that some news releases regarding the call for banning dimethyl fumarate from consumer articles in the EU may be misleading. A review of some of the mainstream media¹ reports show that they correctly report that: ‘The chemical is placed in sachets which are then put inside furniture and shoe boxes to kill mould that would otherwise hurt the products during transport and storage in humid climates.' If this clarification is absent it may be concluded by readers that the fungicide is used during the manufacture of leather.

BASF are taking steps to optimise their structures in order to sharpen the company's focus on customer industries, effective as of April 1, 2009. Dr John Feldmann, member of the board of executive directors responsible for the Performance Products segment, explained the benefits of the changes: ‘With these initial steps, we are very clearly focusing our business on the needs of our customers and markets and sharpening the profile of the segment's divisions.'

Clariant will participate in ANPIC 2009 ‘The fair of Americas', which will be held from February 19 - 22 at the Poliforum Exhibition Centre, León, Mexico.

Under the motto: ‘Upgrading keeping leather's elegance' Clariant will show their collection based on cutting edge technology for leather upgrading. In addition, seasonal statements used in practical applications are presented.

The European Union has banned the use of dimethyl fumarate which is being used to prevent mould forming on leather furniture and shoes during transit.

fMM&T 2009 will host a complete trade event for the footwear and leather industry, allowing manufacturers of footwear, leather garments, importers, exporters and distributors of leather components, designers, brand owners and product developers to meet under one roof.

JBS SA are continuing talks with the US Department of Justice with regard to divesting assets to gain approval to buy National Beef Packing, Wesley Batista, CEO of the company's JBS-Swift unit, said last week.