U.S. EXPORT SALES FOR WEEK ENDING 9/14/2017  

Hides and Skins:  Net sales of 529,700 pieces reported for 2017 were up 8 percent from the previous week and 42 percent from the prior 4-week average.  Whole cattle hide sales totaling 530,700 pieces were primarily for China (334,800 pieces), South Korea (82,900 pieces), Mexico (55,800 pieces), Thailand (26,600 pieces), and Taiwan (21,100 pieces).  Reductions were reported for Italy (1,600 pieces).  Exports of 390,000 pieces reported for 2017 were down 3 percent from the previous week, but up1 percent from the prior 4-week average.  Whole cattle hides exports of 387,500 pieces were primarily to China (255,300 pieces), South Korea (60,200 pieces), Thailand (21,800 pieces), Mexico (19,000 pieces), and Taiwan (19,000 pieces).

Net sales of 42,200 wet blues for 2017 were down 73 percent from the previous week and 77 percent from the prior 4-week average.  Increases were reported for Vietnam (20,600 unsplit), Hong Kong (19,000 grain splits), China (3,800 grain splits), and Mexico (100 unsplit).  Reductions were reported for Italy (700 unsplit), Taiwan (300 unsplit), Mexico (200 grain splits), and Thailand (100 unsplit).   Exports of 160,100 wet blues for 2017 were up 41 percent from the previous week and 3 percent from the prior 4-week average.  The primary destinations were Vietnam (37,600 unsplit and 8,000 grain splits), China (39,200 unsplit and 2,100 grain splits), and Italy (40,600 unsplit).  Net sales of splits totaling 346,100 pounds for 2017 were for South Korea (240,400 pounds), China (81,600 pounds), and Vietnam (24,100 pounds).  Exports of 315,300 pounds for 2017 were up 7 percent from the previous week and 74 percent from the prior 4-week average.  The destinations were Vietnam (247,300 pounds), China (50,000 pounds), and South Korea (18,000 pounds).