Local hide traders are exporting hides to other countries and depriving tanners of the necessary raw materials according to Subramania Balakrishnan, ceo of Zambian tanners Malar Industries. Local tanners are forced to operate below capacity.’Most hides were being exported despite the fact that there were not enough hides to supply domestic demand. The Malar plant was now operating at 15% capacity’, he added. Malar are able to process 3,000 hides monthly into wet-blue or finished leather. ‘The government should look into banning exports of raw hides like in neighbouring Zimbabwe and Botswana’, he said.
