In brief

Latvia Latvia exported raw hides and skins and leather worth US$10.2 million in the first five months of this year, compared with $6.16 million in the same period last year. Imports were $10.4 million ($5.33 million) in 2002. South Africa Statistic South Africa reports that the country produced 2,333 tonnes of wet-blue hides in May, compared with 2,053 tonnes in April and 2,277 tonnes in May last year. Norway Statistics Norway report that Norway exported raw hides and skins worth US$40.1 million in the first half of this year. This represents a year-on-year fall of 20.9%. Kazakhstan According to Kazakhstan's National Statistics Agency, the number of cattle on farms as of July 1 this year was 5.63 million, an increase of 6.9%.