U.S. EXPORT SALES FOR WEEK ENDING 8/2/2018  

Hides and Skins: Net sales of 1,105,300 pieces reported for 2018, all whole cattle hides, were up noticeably from the previous week and from the prior 4-week average.  Increases were for South Korea (463,000 pieces, including decreases of 15,600 pieces), China (390,700 pieces, including decreases of 14,800 pieces), Thailand (166,200 pieces, including decreases of 4,600 pieces), Mexico (46,400 pieces), and Japan (8,900 pieces, including decreases of 400 pieces).  Exports of 469,200 pieces, all whole cattle hides, were up 36 percent from the previous week and 32 percent from the prior 4-week average.  The primary destinations were China (260,300 pieces), South Korea (81,400 pieces), Thailand (49,700 pieces), Mexico (32,500 pieces), and Japan (9,100 pieces). 

Net sales of 182,800 wet blues for 2018 were up noticeably from the previous week and up 71 percent from the prior 4-week average.  Increases were reported for Italy (77,600 unsplit and 7,300 grain splits), China (43,200 unsplit), Vietnam (20,800 unsplit), the Dominican Republic (11,900 unsplit), and Thailand (11,900 unsplit).  Reductions were reported for Thailand (400 grain splits) and Taiwan (300 unsplit).  Exports of 220,000 wet blues for 2018 were up noticeably from the previous week and up 92 percent from the prior 4-week average.  The primary destinations were China (73,900 unsplit), Italy (52,500 unsplit and 9,500 grain splits), Vietnam (38,500 unsplit), Thailand (11,600 unsplit and 9,400 grain splits), and Taiwan (8,200 unsplit).  Net sales of splits totaling 238,100 pounds for 2018 were down 44 percent from the previous week and 58 percent from the prior 4-week average.  The destination was Vietnam.  Exports of 575,100 pounds were up 53 percent from the previous week and up noticeably from the prior 4-week average.  The destinations were Vietnam (405,100 pounds), South Korea (120,000 pounds), and China (50,000 pounds).