All articles by Ky Nikitha
Ky Nikitha
The fair challenge
With an industry disrupted, Sam Setter tackles the effects of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic on trade fairs and travel across the globe in this latest Limeblast.
Ship out: learning from the past
2018 might seem like an eternity ago, but considering the scope of detail the Conseil National du Cuir (CNC), France’s national leather industry body, went through to come up with this data, the information (with some historical context) is just being realised now. Here we distil the CNC’s exhaustive statistical analysis of the global leather industry, including the fact that global leather sector exports were worth €212 billion, and what it all means in today’s climate.
View from the US
After starting the year in a much more optimistic state, the outlook for the hide market became murkier with the arrival of the prolonged Coronavirus crisis. In the third week of February, the situation was still uncertain and much of China had yet to return to operation. On the supply side, slaughter continued at high levels, and with sales slow, hide stocks were starting to build and producer positions erode.
The hunt for red microba
SM Grace, ML Patchett and GE Norris from the School of Fundamental Sciences at Massey University in New Zealand discuss their search for red ‘microba’ – specifically, the identification of microorganisms involved in ‘red heat’ contamination of salt-cured hides.
View from the EU
There’s a European area that seems to have become a most irresistible attraction for investments, especially related to the leather economy. But this time it’s not in a low-cost country, which offers tax incentives and willingness to turn a blind eye to any irregularities from investors. The area is Tuscany. In the land of Chianti Classico and the white truffle, the Uffizi museum and the Tower of Pisa, in the Italian region famous for the protection of the landscape and for the millions of tourists who flock to its art cities and iconic hills, 80 new factories are going to be built, for a total investment of €500 million.
From the field to finished product
CTC’s Thierry Poncet, head of leather and sustainable development divisions, and Cedric Vigier, the company’s innovation manager, discuss the four steps needed for increased traceability of hides and skins.
Go green with biotechnology
With sustainability front of mind for all industries, including our own, Leather International presents presentation highlights from JY Liu and G Holmes of the New Zealand Leather and Shoe Research Association, who ascertain the role of biotechnology in environment-friendly leather production.
Back to the farm
After a hiatus, Sam Setter has returned with a fresh wake-up call for the industry as he pens another Limeblast. This comeback comes complete as a one-two punch as he sets his sights on the Ethiopian Government and the Italian Carabinieri.
View from the EU
Gianni Russo has entered the last phase of his presidency of UNIC-Concerie Italiane. It was a longer than expected presidency – five years as opposed to the traditional four since the association changed its statute, which will resonate for a long time for several reasons. First of all, because it started in a golden moment of the Italian tannery industry, in a period of growth and prosperity with respect to international competitors and the luxury boom. But then it turned negative towards the end of the mandate, as the year of 2019 will certainly testify. In the first nine months, the indication was -7% for bovines, -9% for calves, and -6% for sheep and goats. When the market really collapsed, not even the Italians were able to resist, even if they reacted better than most outside the EU.
View from the US
The US hide market started 2020 just as it ended the previous year – fully steady. Through the end of the year, packer remained well sold, although a few weeks of low sales undoubtedly ate into those forward positions. Despite the fact that sellers were well positioned and prices steady, there was nothing in the market able to move the needle upward on sales levels. Sellers worked to get higher prices, but buyers were still very resistant to paying more. Little is expected to change until after the Chinese New Year holiday at the end of January.