All articles by Ky Nikitha
Ky Nikitha
Port in a storm
The controversial decision by the US Government to increase tariffs from 10% to 2.5% on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports to the US could have dire consequences for the leather sector. Andrea Guolo takes the temperature of the industry and assesses the potential fallout in Europe.
Why you shouldn’t worry about chromium
Cotance secretary general Gustavo Gonzalez Quijano addresses concerns surrounding trivalent chromium Cr(III), the mineral used in the tanning of around 85–90% of all leathers.
Walk the halls
The 40th edition of Première Vision New York, on 16–17 July, promises to be one of the best as the world’s top fashion brands showcase their fall and winter 2020 lines.
On point
The Metropolitan Pavilion in Manhattan’s famous Chelsea district is the setting for the fourth World Leather Congress on 16 July, when industry big-hitters will gather to discuss ‘Leather in Everyday Life’ and how best to educate eco-conscious consumers about leather’s many virtues.
Out of the blue: the sustainability low-down
The leather industry is becoming a champion of sustainability. Companies such as Stahl are showing a commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change, and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals are also high on the agenda. We speak to the company’s director of sustainability, Michael Costello, about Stahl’s ambitious goals and policy of transparency.
View from the US
The negative turn in the US hide market intensified in May, with prices on a steady decline and buyers reticent. Few packers could claim much of a forward-sold position on most selections, and supplies were rapidly growing thanks to some of the highest slaughter levels to date. At press time, renewed trade tensions with China were at the top of the news, but the effect on hide sales was minimal. That said, the situation was fluid as the US administration had threatened additional levies.
The business of waterproofing
With over two decades of industry knowledge, Lionel Champanhet joined Stahl following its acquisition of the BASF Leather Chemicals division in 2017 and is now senior technical manager. Carl Friedmann sat down with him during APLF in Hong Kong in March to discuss how he is helping the company to break new ground, in particular with a pioneering 100% polymeric waterproofing system.
View from the US
April saw the US hide market turn very negative, with not only lower prices, but also unusually low volumes on sales. Any sellers who were well forward sold watched as those positions eroded, unfortunately, at a time when cattle slaughter seasonally moves upward. From a lack of demand and reluctant Asian customers to growing global supplies, pressure on the hide market continued to build.
Proceed with caution
Price pressures, a global automotive industry in transition and changing consumer behaviour all constitute major challenges for the leather industry. Following APLF, Andrea Guolo looks at how political and economic trends around the world are impacting the sector.
Brazil means business
The 43rd edition of Fimec, which took place on 26–28 February in Novo Hamburgo, reflected a change of fortune in the leather footwear industry in the country. Visitors flocked to the Fenac Exhibition Centre, where optimism prevailed and deals were closed.