U.S. EXPORT SALES FOR WEEK ENDING 9/4/2008

Hides and Skins:  Net sales of 292,000 pieces were down 46 percent from the previous week and 35 percent from the prior 4-week average.  Whole cattle hide sales of 293,900 pieces were mainly for China (152,100 pieces), South Korea (73,700 pieces), Taiwan (41,300 pieces), Vietnam (9,100 pieces), and Japan (8,500 pieces).  Exports of 477,400 pieces were down 4 percent from the previous week and 10 percent from the prior 4-week average.  Whole cattle hide exports of 454,900 pieces were primarily to China (250,500 pieces), South Korea (80,600 pieces), Taiwan (36,600 pieces), Mexico (25,000 pieces), and Vietnam (22,800 pieces). 

Net sales of 129,300 wet blues were up two and one-fifth times from the previous week and 14 percent from the prior 4-week average.  Increases were mainly for China (48,400 unsplit and 19,900 grain splits), Hong Kong (16,900 unsplit), South Korea (14,900 unsplit), the Dominican Republic (11,600 grain splits), and Taiwan (8,200 unsplit).  Exports of 115,000 hides were up 8 percent from the previous week, but unchanged from the prior 4-week average.  The primary destinations were Taiwan (29,600 unsplit), China (20,200 unsplit and 5,400 grain splits), Italy (12,100 unsplit and 3,600 grain splits), and the Dominican Republic (11,600 grain splits and 3,200 unsplit).  Net sales of splits totaling 663,300 pounds were for South Korea (495,000 pounds) and China (168,300 pounds).  Exports of 284,300 pounds were down 61 percent from the previous week and 57 percent from the prior 4-week average.  The destinations were China (184,300 pounds) and Hong Kong (100,000 pounds).