Turkish double-face producers are poised for a buoyant season. Türkiye is now the number one global producer of finished lambskins. For 2002, this will amount to about 80 million skins. Unchanged is the need to import about 80% of all raw skins processed, some $600 million in money terms. For bovines, the figure is lower, with about 46% of skins imported.
Domestic sources can supply neither the quantity nor the high quality uniform pelts that top lambskin processors now demand.
Firms like Corlu-based Yesiller Deri Sanayi ve Ticaret Ltd Sirketi require 5 to 6 million sq ft (about one million skins) per year and source mainly from Spain, the UK and Australia.
As the buying season begins, Spanish lambskins are reportedly selling for about $14 to $15 each.
Turkish doubleface production is more than ever driven by Russian demand for ready-made fashion garments. This is ruled by the unregistered suitcase trade, which has garment exports at about $1.5 billion.
Legitimate (garment-only) exports are about $500 million.
In the period January to July 2002, all-sector Turkish sales to Russia rose by 83% – a cool $50 billion.
