During the last few weeks, the leather market has not witnessed any considerable change in the prices. Demand for goat suedes, glazed kid, upper and lining leather continues.

Likewise, while demand continues for buffalo calf and cow calf, a slight decline in demand for cow hides for upper and lining leather was noted.

Demand for sheep nappa has not improved yet, though feeble transactions were reported in lighter shade top selections of reputed mark at Rs60-65 per sq m. In general, lots were sold between Rs38 and Rs41. Rejections were sold at Rs20 and below per sq m. (Rs1 = $0.021)

Some reputed manufacturers of all kinds of finished leather say that though they have received enquiries for different types of leather, business has not materialised. This is because the buyers are asking to deliver the goods on a credit basis due to financial reasons and the sellers are hesitating to sell their lots on credit.

Contrary to finished leather prices, raw goat and sheep skin prices are ruling high due to seasonal arrivals, while hides and calf prices have come down due to unseasonal arrivals and also due to slow purchases by the regular buying houses.

On the export front, though there are enquiries for all kinds of leather and leather products, the present tension on the Indo-Pakistan border has dampened the mood of the exporters.

After the APLF, Hong Kong and the SIMAC and Lineapelle fairs in Bologna, Italy, leading and medium scale manufacturer-exporters are busy in executing trail orders. Some of them have bagged good orders for the next season too.

Good demand was noted for different kinds of finished goat skin articles. Goat suede leather medium selection was sold between $1.30 and $1.50 per sq ft and top selections of reputed marks were sold between $1.80 and $2.20 per sq ft, while lower end suedes were sold between $0.80 and $1.10 per sq ft.

Different types of the above-mentioned upper leathers were sold between $0.80 and $1.10 and per sq ft for economy selection, medium selection between

$1.20 and $1.80, while top selections of reputed marks were sold between $2.00 and $2.50 per sq ft.

For sheepskin gloving leathers, top selection of reputed marks were sold between $1.80 to $2.15 per sq ft, while medium selection was offered at $1.50-1.70 and lower selection at $1.05-1.20 depending on the size and finishes. Different kinds of upper finished leather (Caberetta finished leather) were sold between $2.00 and $2.30. Sheep nappa leather top selections were sold between $1.30 and $1.50, medium selection between $0.80 and $0.90 and lower ends between $0.45 and $0.55 per sq ft.

Different kinds of classic finished leather made out of imported cow hides, cow calf and buffalo calf like FC upper, metallic upper burnish upper and softy upper of top selection of reputed marks were sold between $3.50 and $4.00 per sq ft.

Average selection was sold between $1.25 and $1.50.

Generally in volume cow, buffalo hides and their calf skin lining were sold between $0.65 and $0.75 for medium and $0.45 to $0.55 for low selection per sq ft.

Different kinds of upper leathers were sold between $1 and $1.50 per sq ft to European and Far-East countries.