U.S. EXPORT SALES FOR WEEK ENDING 8/9/2018  

 Hides and Skins: Net sales of 352,600 pieces reported for 2018 were down 68 percent from the previous week and 33 percent from the prior 4-week average.  Whole cattle hide sales totaling 352,900 pieces were primarily for China (229,000 pieces, including decreases of 6,300 pieces), South Korea (65,500 pieces, including decreases of 1,100 pieces), Mexico (31,800 pieces, including decreases of 200 pieces), Thailand (10,400 pieces, including decreases of 3,400 pieces), and Japan (6,400 pieces, including decreases of 200 pieces).  Exports of 427,100 pieces reported for 2018 were down 9 percent from the previous week, but up 8 percent from the prior 4-week average.  Whole cattle hide exports of 423,300 pieces were primarily to China (234,700 pieces), South Korea (82,200 pieces), Thailand (55,800 pieces), Mexico (29,500 pieces), and Taiwan (10,100 pieces). 

Net sales of 149,100 wet blues for 2018 were down 18 percent from the previous week, but up 16 percent from the prior 4-week average.  Increases were reported for China (64,500 unsplit), Italy (31,300 unsplit and 7,500 grain splits), Vietnam (28,200 unsplit), and the Dominican Republic (14,200 unsplit).  Reductions were reported for Thailand (1,000 unsplit and 200 grain splits) and Mexico (300 grain splits).  For 2019, net sales of 168,800 wet blues were reported for Italy.  Exports of 207,500 wet blues for 2018 were down 6 percent from the previous week, but up 49 percent from the prior 4-week average.  The primary destinations were China (63,400 unsplit and 1,900 grain splits), Italy (53,500 unsplit and 5,700 grain splits), Vietnam (55,800 unsplit), and Thailand (8,100 grain splits and 6,400 unsplit).  Net sales reductions splits totaling of 104,800 pounds for 2018 were reported for Vietnam.  Exports of 715,200 pounds were up 24 percent from the previous week and 83 percent from the prior 4-week average.  The destinations were Vietnam (665,200 pounds) and China (50,000 pounds).