U.S. EXPORT SALES FOR WEEK ENDING 9/6/2018  

Hides and Skins: Net sales of 278,900 pieces reported for 2018, all whole cattle hides, were down 28 percent from the previous week and 27 percent from the prior 4-week average.  Increases were for China (181,400 pieces, including decreases of 11,500 pieces), South Korea (48,600 pieces, including decreases of 1,100 pieces), Mexico (24,600 pieces, including decreases of 100 pieces), Brazil (13,400 pieces, including decreases of 300 pieces), and Thailand (8,000 pieces, including decreases of 400 pieces).  Reductions were reported for Taiwan (600 pieces).  Exports of 278,800 pieces, all whole cattle hides, were down 46 percent from the previous week and 41 percent from the prior 4-week average.  Exports were primarily to China (145,500 pieces), South Korea (58,200 pieces), Mexico (21,900 pieces), Thailand (16,100 pieces), and Brazil (13,000 pieces). 

Net sales of 89,200 wet blues for 2018 were down 59 percent from the previous week and 36 percent from the prior 4-week average.  Increases were reported for China (42,400 unsplit and 11,400 grain splits), Vietnam (35,700 unsplit and 100 grain splits), and the Dominican Republic (5,400 unsplit).  Reductions were reported for Italy (3,000 unsplit and 200 grain splits), Taiwan (1,400 unsplit), and Mexico (900 grain splits).  Exports of 132,500 wet blues for 2018 were down 11 percent from the previous week and 15 percent from the prior 4-week average.  The primary destinations were Italy (38,100 unsplit and 5,400 grain splits), China (39,000 unsplit and 1,900 grain splits), Vietnam (18,400 unsplit), and the Dominican Republic (12,800 unsplit).  Net sales splits totaling 27,800 pounds for 2018 resulted as increases for China (50,000 pounds), were partially offset by reductions for Vietnam (22,200 pounds).  Exports of 642,900 pounds were up 60 percent from the previous week and 8 percent from the prior 4-week average.  The destinations were Vietnam (442,900 pounds) and South Korea (200,000 pounds).