Low prices of raw-hides, skins frustrate common sellers
Thursday, 3 December 2009
Chittagong Office
CHITTAGONG, Dec 2 : The prices of cow hides and goat skins were remarkably low this year as a syndicate of middlemen, allegedly, controlled the buying of the same in the port city.
Cow hides of medium-size were sold at Tk 300 to 500 per piece and goat skins at Tk 200 to 300 in the villages of south Chittagong compared to almost double the amount last year.
Buyers said the quality of cow hides in Chittagong was inferior to those of Dhaka and north Bengal districts.
But the common sellers said the quality of hides was rather better this year as a large number of bulls sacrificed here had been brought from the country's northern districts.
Over 200,000 pieces of cow hides and 50,000 pieces of goat skins were sold on the Eid day (Saturday) in Chittagong, according to local hide and skin traders.
It was assumed that the prices of raw-hides would be rather higher this year as most people opted to buy healthy bulls in view of cheaper prices compared to that of the previous years, they said.
Wholesalers fixed the prices of raw-hides at Tk 30 per square feet and thus the price of a hide of a bull of Tk 60,000 was expected to come over Tk 700, but we got Tk 450-500 only, the common sellers added.
It occurred due mainly to the syndicated purchasing of the middlemen who would sell the hides to the wholesalers, they said.
Meanwhile, tannery sources said the local tanners showed less interest in procurement of hides this year assuming apparent losses due to closure of some tanneries because of financial crisis.
Sources said six out of eight tanneries have been closed for various reasons. On the other hand, the Dhaka tanneries owe more than Tk 150 million to the wholesalers in Chittagong putting them in extreme difficulty in running their business.
CHITTAGONG, Dec 2 : The prices of cow hides and goat skins were remarkably low this year as a syndicate of middlemen, allegedly, controlled the buying of the same in the port city.
Cow hides of medium-size were sold at Tk 300 to 500 per piece and goat skins at Tk 200 to 300 in the villages of south Chittagong compared to almost double the amount last year.
Buyers said the quality of cow hides in Chittagong was inferior to those of Dhaka and north Bengal districts.
But the common sellers said the quality of hides was rather better this year as a large number of bulls sacrificed here had been brought from the country's northern districts.
Over 200,000 pieces of cow hides and 50,000 pieces of goat skins were sold on the Eid day (Saturday) in Chittagong, according to local hide and skin traders.
It was assumed that the prices of raw-hides would be rather higher this year as most people opted to buy healthy bulls in view of cheaper prices compared to that of the previous years, they said.
Wholesalers fixed the prices of raw-hides at Tk 30 per square feet and thus the price of a hide of a bull of Tk 60,000 was expected to come over Tk 700, but we got Tk 450-500 only, the common sellers added.
It occurred due mainly to the syndicated purchasing of the middlemen who would sell the hides to the wholesalers, they said.
Meanwhile, tannery sources said the local tanners showed less interest in procurement of hides this year assuming apparent losses due to closure of some tanneries because of financial crisis.
Sources said six out of eight tanneries have been closed for various reasons. On the other hand, the Dhaka tanneries owe more than Tk 150 million to the wholesalers in Chittagong putting them in extreme difficulty in running their business.