China’s leather production on par with 2013
Figures from the China Leather Industry Association show the volume of leather produced at the country’s tanneries is running at similar levels to last year, which were well below those in 2012 (around 20% lower).
From January to July, volume declined 1.2% year-on-year to 334.6 million square metres.
On a month-by-month basis, January’s 36 million sq m was 3.7% lower than January 2013, with a similar total noted in February; a decline of 3% was recorded in March compared with the year-ago month at 55.2 million sq m. April’s 46.8 million sq m was 0.4% lower, May’s 51.4 million sq m was 1.4% lower while June’s 57.1 million sq m was 1% higher. In July, 54.1 million sq m was produced.
The figures seem to suggest that the industry has not felt the effects of the closures of tanneries in Hebei this year in the way some observers might have feared - at least in terms of volume of output.
