U.S. EXPORT SALES FOR WEEK ENDING 11/29/2018   

Hides and Skins:  Net sales of 285,200 pieces reported for 2018 were down 12 percent from the previous week and 20 percent from the prior 4-week average.  Whole cattle hide sales totaling 283,900 pieces were primarily for China (166,900 pieces, including decreases of 8,800 pieces), South Korea (68,800 pieces, including decreases of 3,800 pieces), Mexico (25,800 pieces including decreases of 600 pieces), Thailand (9,500 pieces, including decreases of 1,100 pieces), and Slovenia (7,600 pieces).  Reductions were reported for Indonesia (500 pieces) and Japan (400 pieces).  For 2019, net sales of 52,200 pieces were reported for China (45,100 pieces) and Mexico (7,100 pieces).  Exports of 342,400 pieces reported for 2018 were down 20 percent from the previous week and 24 percent from the prior 4-week average.  Whole cattle hide exports of 335,000 pieces were primarily to China (208,200 pieces), South Korea (65,800 pieces), Mexico (30,300 pieces), Taiwan (11,000 pieces), and Thailand (9,100 pieces).

Net sales of 80,300 wet blues for 2018 were up 3 percent from the previous week and 28 percent from the prior 4-week average.  Increases were reported for Italy (32,200 unsplit), China (17,100 unsplit), Mexico (15,500 grain splits), Vietnam (11,800 unsplit), and Taiwan (3,900 unsplit).  Reductions were reported for Thailand (300 unsplit).  For 2019, net sales of 21,800 unsplit were reported for Italy (11,800 unsplit) and Thailand (10,000 unsplit).  Exports of 137,900 wet blues for 2018 were up 21 percent from the previous week and 34 percent from the prior 4-week average.  The primary destinations were Italy (62,700 unsplit and 7,300 grain splits), China (36,900 unsplit), Vietnam (16,000 unsplit), and Mexico (5,500 grain splits).  Net sales of splits totaling 396,200 pounds for 2018 were for Vietnam.  Exports of 420,000 pounds for 2018 were up 91 percent from the previous week and 74 percent from the prior 4-week average.  The destinations were Vietnam (320,000 pounds) and China (100,000 pounds).