U.S. EXPORT SALES FOR WEEK ENDING 3/19/2020 

Hides and Skins: Net sales of 408,800 pieces for 2020 were down 11 percent from the previous week, but up 8 percent from the prior 4-week average.  Increases primarily for China (248,900 whole cattle hides, including decreases of 6,200 pieces), South Korea (77,600 whole cattle hides, including 3,300 whole cattle hides switched from Hong Kong and decreases of 2,500 pieces), Mexico (41,400 whole cattle hides, including decreases of 600 pieces), Indonesia (24,300 whole cattle hides, including decreases of 700 pieces), and Taiwan (16,200 whole cattle hides, including decreases of 1,300 pieces), were offset by reductions primarily for Brazil (5,600 whole cattle hides) and Hong Kong (3,300 whole cattle hides).  Exports of 363,100 pieces reported for 2020 were up 12 percent from the previous week and 8 percent from the prior 4-week average.  Whole cattle hide exports were primarily to China (174,800 pieces), Mexico (58,100 pieces), South Korea (55,800 pieces), Thailand (31,000 pieces), and Taiwan (17,900 pieces).  In addition, there were exports to Belgium (2,700 kip skins) and Japan (1,200 kip skins).   

Net sales of 105,000 wet blues for 2020 were up 11 percent from the previous week, but down 4 percent from the prior 4-week average.  Increases were primarily for Italy (26,400 unsplit), Thailand (25,200 unsplit), China (14,600 grain splits and 8,300 unsplit), Vietnam (15,400 unsplit), and Mexico (7,800 grain splits).  Exports of 115,400 wet blues for 2020 were down 30 percent from the previous week and 24 percent from the prior 4-week average.  The destinations were primarily to Italy (20,900 unsplit and 4,100 grain splits), China (12,500 grain splits and 9,300 unsplit), Thailand (19,900 unsplit), Brazil (8,700 grain splits and 5,200 unsplit), and Vietnam (11,100 unsplit).  Total net sales of 791,600 splits were for Vietnam.  Exports of 324,600 pounds were to Vietnam (321,000 pounds) and China (3,600 pounds).