Tanners held back by lack of hides

摘要

During 2001, production growth rates in the Russian leather and footwear industries slowed. The combined output decreased by 3.6% over 2000. Only sole leather production improved while chrome and juft leather (chrome tanned leather embossed to look like shagrin/sharkskin) output fell, accounting for the overall drop since footwear remained somewhat static. In 2002, business activity in the leather and footwear sectors recovered somewhat. Their combined output increased by 8.7% in the January to April period. This rise is partly attributed to the Russian government's measures on limiting exports of raw hides and skins. In August 2001, an export duty of EUD500 per ton was introduced which resulted in a drop of exports by 20%.