Winter a boon for raw hide traders

Yasir Wardad back from Nilphamari Seasonal raw hide traders in North-Bengal are trying to take the full benefit of winter which helps them to store animal skins for a longer period to recover losses, traders said. Most of the butchers are part timer skin traders in North-Bengal. They invest a small amount and also target to benefit a little bit from the Eid-ul-Azha animal sacrifice, according to the traders. Md Ainul Haque, a butcher and trader at Panchapukur union in Nilphamari Sadar area invested nearly Tk 50000 this year and collected 56 pieces different sized cow skin. "It takes Tk 850 to 1450 for different grade skins. But the big traders in Bogra are charging a less compared to our buying prices," he said. He informed that he bought a good quality skin at Tk 1450 which will be nearly 22 to 23 square feet (sf). "But the traders are charging Tk 1300 to Tk 1350 showing excuse of reduction of price by the tanners in Dhaka". Md Akbar Ali, another trader and also a butcher at Jaldhaka Paura-Council area in the same district claimed that the reduction occurred (he mentioned it as a massacre) as the stakeholders hadn't fixed the minimum price of hide this year. He told the FE that he and his fellow traders were storing skins mixing salts at the hides. "We would sell the item had we got at least the buying price. We will not sell the item sustaining a loss. The winter will help us to store that for a long time," Md Ali said. He however informed that the smuggling may take place after few weeks if there is relaxed control. A large number of seasonal raw hide traders have suffered substantial financial losses this year across the country as the tanners are charging lower prices compared to the purchasing price. President of Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leather Goods and Footwear Exporters Association (FLLGFEA) Belal Hossain told the FE on Wednesday that many seasonal traders incurred financial losses this year as most of them purchased raw hides at last year's prices which were higher. Mr Belal claimed that the tanning firms offered lower rates than that of the last year. According to the Raw Hide Merchants and Exporters Association, the average prices of raw hide and skin this year was Tk 70 per sf in Dhaka and Tk 60 to 65 sf out side the capital. The prices of higher grades hovered between Tk 75 and Tk 80 sf. Seasonal traders, however, blamed 'unholy alliance' of the tanners for the sharp fall in the prices of the raw hide. They also blamed tanneries for maximising profits as they did not provide a benchmark prices for hides and skin. According to the Bangladesh Tanners Association, they are expecting to procure 5.0 million pieces raw hide of cow and over 3.0 million pieces of goat from this Eid-ul-Azha.