THE HIDE MARKETS.

Shannon News, 1 August 1924, Page 3

THE HIDE MARKETS.

WEAKNESS CONTINUES. The overseas bide and skin market continues weak all along the line, and while calfskins have recently kept up better than (hides, there is 6till an inherent weakness in the whole situation. The latest cablegrams indicate' a decline in tcaliiskins, with further; weakness to follow. In. America a big carry-over from last season's stocks of Continental skins Is held by speculators who have now to-ac-cept considerably lower prices than those at which the skins were bought. In Germany, it is stated,, the situation is even worse than in America; and calfsldns are selling at very lowprices there to German tanners. This does not effect United Kingdom or American, tanners to any extent, as there is an export prohibition. However', it has resulted in a material reduction in the selling price for Scandinavian land Njprtpern European skins, of which there are considerable quantities on hand, and tanners are prepared to buy them only at a considerable reduction under sellers'' ideas of values. In the meantime the mlarken for light cjalf leaders Continues very dull. It is reported from Australia that there is a slump in certain light calf leathers, <and *fihat calfskin tanners show a tendency to change over to > fancy grain work. This would indicate "that light calfskins may not be in their usual demand this season. Also, a cheap substitute for calfgraln leather manufactured from ihides, is taking the place of real calf-grain leathers. Where the Australian boot trade is concerned' it is said that actories cannot expect a brightness for some time, at any- rate during- this season, as supplies are too' great for the present demand to absorb ttiem. Statistics show stocks of 2,000,000 piair in excess of requirements. Cablegrams from London this week quote the sheep-pelt market as weaker and unsettled and suggest the possibility of substantially lower prices. It is added that the future depends upon the resumption of toe*^ 6 " demand and an improvement in the American requirements -during jpp , autumn. ~ • ~'* '■■>"'»'