GOOD DEMAND CONTINUES FOR VARIOUS LEATHERS UNABATED

GOOD DEMAND CONTINUES FOR VARIOUS LEATHERS UNABATED


V.M. Khaleelur Rahman

The general feeling in the leather market is that there is good demand for various descriptions of goat, sheep, kip and calf leathers from both domestic and overseas buyers but the prices payable by them are unworkable. Some of the merchant-exporters who have entered into contracts for bulk quantities are finding it difficult to cover their requirements of raw, wet blue or tanned skins/hides in the markets in Chennai and other places.

There are many customers in the Chennai leather market who are buying tanned goat skins R/V/IF at around Rs.45/- and All Suedes at around Rs.39/-, A/B/C Lining at around Rs.32/29/27 and Rejection at around Rs.24/- per sq.ft. but availability of goods is limited and the present arrivals contain monsoon defects and hence contract is not easy. There is also good demand for sheep nappa and other items in Vaniyambadi and wet blue cow hides in Erode.

Prices of raw hides and skins have also gone up considerably in almost all centres in the country and abroad. For example raw goat skins are sold at around Rs.130/- per piece in states like Andhra Pradesh and Kernataka and much higher in places like Miraj where quality is better. Many small tanners have given up doing tanned skins due to the prevailing increased prices of raw skins and unworkable level of prices available for tanned skins in the Chennai market.

OVERSEAS DEMAND

There is good demand for goat upper and lining leathers, sheep nappa and suede leather etc. in the overseas markets at different prices depending on the quality and selection. It is learnt that Hong Kong and Korean customers are interested in F/C goat upper and lining leathers at around US$1.80 and 1.10 per sq.ft. respectively whereas S/C goat garment suede leathers are salable at around US$2.00 per sq.ft. European customers are also buying goat lining leathers TR-1/2/3 at around US$1.10/1.00/0.90 per sq.ft. as usual.

Demand also continues for F/C sheep suede leathers – All Suedes, LDT and Rejection at around US$2.50, 1.90 and 1.40 per sq.ft. respectively. Sheep lining leathers are sold at around US$1.20 per sq.ft..

DOMESTIC DEMAND

Many domestic shoe manufacturers also buy sheep lining leathers at around Rs.50/- per sq.ft. from tanneries in Vaniyambadi. This town is well known for its bulk supplies of different varieties of sheep leathers. Garment and shoe manufacturers in different parts of our country cover their requirements of finished leathers such as nappa, suede, cabretta and lining leathers from this popular centre with quite a large number of tanneries. While Ambur enjoys the reputation for its sophisticated shoe factories producing world class footwears, Vaniyambadi is popular for its tanneries producing high class sheep nappa, suede and Cabretta leathers.

ROLE OF LEATHER INDUSTRY

The leather industry plays an important role in the Indian economy. It is one of the top foreign exchange earners for the country. India’s export of leather and leather products was to the tune of US $3400 million during the year 2009-10 and it is providing employment opportunities to lakhs of people. The governments at the Centre and in the States are interested in its growth and development and extend all support to it. There is every possibility of increase in this export figure in the coming year 2010-11.

The Leather Industry holds a prominent place in the Indian economy. This sector is known for its consistency in high export earnings and it is among the top ten foreign exchange earners for the country.

‘BAYWATCH’ STAR PAMELA’S LETTER

Nobody sacrifices any animal for its skin or hide. This being the case, the much publicized letter in the media written by the former “Baywatch” star Pamela Anderson (who participated in the reality show ‘Big Boss 4’ in India) to the hon’ble Prime Minister, Mr. Manmohan Singh urging all to reject all leather products “in order to help put an end to animal suffering” holds no water to say the least. She has done this deliberately perhaps just for the sake of publicity knowing pretty well that her proposal is impracticable and no government will implement it as it is fraught with dangerous economic consequences. The fact is that the leather industry is making the best use of the already available raw hides and skins by proper procurement, tanning and finishing without allowing them to be wasted by putrefaction and earning the invaluable foreign exchange for the nation. Her proposal cannot be a solution to prevent cruelty to animals. However the interest she has shown for helpless animals for whatever reason it may be is, no doubt, appreciable.

The government should do the needful to see that the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 is implemented properly. It should be clear to all that putting an animal to any cruelty is an offence and punishable under this Act and it is also a sin according to all faiths.

The leather associations in different parts of the country should also take a note of this and create awareness among the people to prevent cruelty to animals. (VMK in Indian Leather, December 2010)

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SEMINAR CONDUCTED ON AYODHYA : THE WAY FORWARD

Left to right: 1. Mr. Zackriah Badsha 2. Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer 3. Mr. Moosa Raza 4. Mr. Faizur Rahman

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SEMINAR CONDUCTED ON AYODHYA: THE WAY FORWARD

BY V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN, for twoCircles.net

The Forum for the Promotion of Moderate Thought among Muslims conducted a seminar in Chennai on Monday, 8th November 2010 on “Ayodhya: The Way Forward”. Mr. N. Roohullah, the Forum Treasurer recited the verses of the holy Quran and explained it and Mr. Zackriah Badsha, the Forum President, presided the meeting and delivered the welcome address. Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer and Mr. Moosa Raza were the main speakers.

Dr. Asgher Ali Engineer ,despite his knee pain, attended the meeting and enlightened the audience with the history of the Ayodhya controversy in detail. Mr. Moosa Raza also explained about it extensively as he became the Secretary to Government of India just a day after the demolition of the Babri Masjid. Both the speeches were very informative and thought provoking. They also answered the questions raised by the audience. A questioner said that even Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was fed up with this issue and replied in his own inimitable style that “Hum ishq ke maaron ka mazhab se naheen rishta, gar kaba hua to kye gar kasha hua to kya”. This long pending problem should be settled amicably.” The sum and substance of their speech was that all the three parties concerned are to appeal in the Supreme Court and in this situation after its final verdict a negotiated settlement will be imminent in the national interest and that we must prepare a ground for it.

At the end of the meeting the Forum’s Secretary General Mr. A. Faizur Rahman issued a statement saying that a negotiated settlement is the best way out for the Ayodhya dispute. He appealed to the parties concerned to arrive at a compromise formula through negotiations. For this he thought that two confidence building measures are imperative. 1. The Supreme Court should countermand the dangerous precedent set by the Allahabad High Court that makes it possible for a community to takeover a place of worship of any other community purely on the basis of irrational antiquated dogma or faith. 2. The Hindutva parivar, in the spirit of reconciliation it is talking about, must take the first step towards it by announcing its willingness to relinquish its claim to other mosques in the country. In his opinion such a gesture would be seen as upholding the concept of democratic fair dealing and it will pave the way for a negotiated settlement of the dispute.

The statement further said that the Ayodhya dispute should not be seen as purely a Hindu-Muslim issue as it actually concerns the entire nation and could seriously affect its development if allowed to continue and hence the Union Government must assume the role of a genuine mediator to help the Hindus and Muslims to resolve this dispute amicably. (VMK in twoCircles.net)

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MRS. MICHELLE OBAMA'S THOUGHT PROVOKING TALK

MRS. OBAMA'S GOLDEN WORDS


MICHELLE OBAMA'S THOUGHT PROVOKING TALK TO SPECIAL CHILDREN: WE NEVER HAD A LOT OF MONEY. I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BECOME THE FIRST LADY BUT WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY CAME I WAS PREPARED FOR IT BECAUSE OF THE EDUCATION THAT I HAD.

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LINEAPELLI LEATHER FAIR AND CHENNAI MARKET

LINEAPELLI LEATHER FAIR AND CHENNAI MARKET


V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN

Italy’s annual attraction Lineapelli Leather Fair held in Bologna from 12th to 14th October 2010, according to many tanners who visited it, was highly successful with more participants and increased volume of business concluded this year in comparison with last year. According to reports there were approximately 1100 stalls in the fair and 70% of exhibitors were from Italy and the rest from other countries and among these 50% were tanners. As usual there was display of leathers in trend selection area for the coming autumn/winter 2011-12 season, mostly in natural colours such as greens, browns and whites which was very popular and attracted fashion conscious stylists, designers and customers. The general impression is that the fair was beneficial to exporters of leather and shoes.

In the Chennai leather market, demand existed for tanned and wet blue goat skins as leather and leather products manufacturers showed interest for them. But arrivals were limited in tanned goat skins as many tanners continue to be slow in production as it is not workable. Besides this, there is more demand than supply in certain items. There was also good demand for wet blue cow hides in Erode and considerable volume of business was done in this item.

Exporters continue to buy tanned goat skins 4/7 sq.ft. grain selection at around Rs.45/-, Suede selection at around Rs.40, A/B/C linings at around Rs.30/29/28 per sq.ft. There is also good interest for Stout Suede at around Rs.35/-. There was also good movement of Rejection and Langda at different prices depending on the quality. But availability is limited and buyers find it difficult to cover their requirements.

As many leading tanners are interested in buying raw hides and skins in bulk in many important centres to fulfill their export obligations, prices have gone up considerably everywhere to the extent of Rs.140/- in places like Miraj. It is said that raw skin suppliers are taking advantage of this situation and reaping the maximum benefits.

A North Indian supplier I met said jokingly, “kabhi saas ke din to kabhi bahu ke” – Time changes – sometimes it is mother-in-law’s and sometimes it is daughter-in-law’s days. But it does not seem to be the case. The spread and progressive development of the leather and leather products industry in many parts of the country has destroyed the camaraderie that existed between suppliers and manufacturers. It is now the survival of the fittest and the fastest –whoever they are. The trend of the business has changed dramatically and drastically and things are not what they were before.

Overseas customers showed more interest for good quality Cabretta, Nappa, Suede, Upper and Lining leathers at almost unchanged and in some cases even at higher prices. The general feeling in the market is that things are improving a lot. While sheep cabretta 4/7 sq.ft. ABC was offered at around US$2.50, goat Upper ABC grade and Lining A grade were quoted at around US$2.00 and US$1.10 per sq.ft. respectively. Reputed tanners are having good business with Far East and European customers in different items at varying prices depending on the quality and selection. The following is just the indication of prices for exports.

Size per sq.ft. Substance Selection Price US $ per sq.ft. C&F

4/7 Goat upper leather 0.6/0.8 mm ABC – D – E 2.00 - 1.50 - 1.40

3/7 Goat Lining leather 0.5/0.7 mm TR1 – TR2 – TR3 1.10 - 1.00 – 0.90

4/7 Sheep Suede/Cabretta leather 0.6/0.8 mm All Suedes – LDT – Rej 2.50 - 1.90 – 1.40

5.5/9 Sheep Suede/Cabretta leather 0.8/1.00 mm All Suedes – LDT- Rej 2.75 – 2.10 – 1.50



DELHI INTERNATIONAL LEATHER FAIR 2010 CANCELLED

It is learnt from the Council for Leather Exports that the 18th Edition of Delhi International Leather Fair (DILF) 2010 scheduled from 3rd to 5th December 2010 has been cancelled by ITPO on the request of the Convenor of the DILF based on the suggestions made by the members of the leather trade and industry particularly in Northern Region due to non suitability of timings of the Fair. Many industrialists say that it is the right decision in the present time when there are so many fairs.

(Indian Leather, November 2010)
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