CHENNAI LEATHER MARKET
V M Khaleelur Rahman
There seems to be no change for the better in the Chennai
leather market. Activities are slow as in the past few months in tanned as well
as wet blue goat and sheep skins. Prices of raw hides and skins are also almost
unchanged and transactions slow everywhere in the country.
Local prices for E.I. Tanned Goat Skins are as follows
approximately.
Grain Selection: 5/8 sq. ft. Run Rs.95, Fifths Rs.80, Inf.
Fifths Rs.70, LIF Rs.60,
Suede Selection: 4/6 sq. ft. Rs.46, 5/8 sq. ft. Rs.47
Lining Selection: 5/8 sq. ft. AB Lining Rs.44, ABC Lining
Rs.40, 4/6 sq. ft. AB Lining Rs.38, ABC Lining Rs.35
Mesh Selection: 5/8 sq. ft. Rs.30
All prices are per sq. ft.
Raw Skins: As far as raw goat skins are concerned, In
Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh the prevailing prices are from Rs.100 to 130 per
piece. However in some other places like Miraj where quality is better prices
are from Rs.150 to 200 per piece depending on size and quality. Some big exporters are covering their requirements from these high quality centres.
Offers
of exporters are at around the following prices:
S/C OR F/C GOAT LEATHERS
Material
|
Size/sq. ft.
|
Substance
|
Selection
|
Price US$ per sq.
ft. C&F
|
Goat upper
leather
|
4/7
|
0.6/0.8 mm
|
ABC/DE
|
2.10/1.60
|
Goat milled leather
|
4/7
|
0.6/0.8 mm
|
TR-1
|
1.75
|
Goat suede
leather
|
4/7
5/8
|
0.6/0.8 mm
0.6/0.8 mm
|
All Suede
|
2.00
2.10
|
Goat lining
leather
|
4/7
|
0.5/0.7 mm
|
TR-1
|
1.60
|
6/9
|
0.6/0.8 mm
|
TR-1
|
1.70
|
F/C SHEEP LEATHERS
Material
|
Size/sq.ft.
|
Substance
|
Selection
|
Price US$ per sq.
ft. C&F
|
Sheep Cabretta
leather
|
4/7
|
0.6/0.8 mm
|
ABC
|
1.90
|
Sheep Cabretta
leather
|
6/9
|
0.8/1.00 mm
|
ABC
|
2.00
|
Sheep lining
leather
|
4/7
5/9
|
0.5/0.7 mm
0.6/0.8 mm
|
TR-1
TR-1
|
1.50
1.60
|
Although exports have been down during the past some months,
exporters are optimistic that things will change and exports will pick up
during this year. As exporters of leather are facing problems at the Customs on
identification of finished leather, many small tanners and exporters are not
willing to enter into contracts. This is considered to be one of the reasons
for the exports coming down. At this time of a sort of crisis in the leather
industry, some small scale tanners demand that the 15% export duty on E. I. Tanned
goat and sheep skins should be removed to enable them to carry on their
business in this age old leather item which is nothing but “finished leather”.
Although there is a strong case for this, divided opinions are the main hurdles
in the way of the government making the E. I. Tanned skins duty free.
(Writer’s e-mail id: vmk1234@yahoo.com)
