The country’s rawhide traders expect to collect at least 70 lakh pieces of raw hides of sacrificial animals in the coming Eid-ul-Azha which is 15 per cent higher than the last year.
They said that that the collection of rawhide may increase by 30 per cent as the general election would be held in a few months after the Eid.The leather sector leaders said that last year the sector sat on a stockpile of unsold leather due to the global recession, but this year the scenario has changed.
Though the demands have increased, the prices of hide did not increase much on the international market, they said.
Rawhide traders are happy for increasing demand on the international market, but expressed concern over the devaluation of dollar.
‘International buyers preferred Bangladeshi hide and leather products due to its quality and competitiveness, but many traders are incurring loss as Taka appreciated against dollar,’ Bangladesh Tanners Association chairman Shaheen Ahmed told New Age on Tuesday.
He said that usually the number of sacrificial animals increase by 10 per cent every year and this year the number of animal, specially cow, would increased by 30 per cent as the national election will be held just after Eid.
He said that the aspirants of different political parties usually sacrifice a large number of animals in Eid during the election-year to attract voters.
The BTA set a target to collect 120-130 million square feet hides during Eid-ul-Azha which is 20 per cent higher than last year, Shaheen said.
Last year, the BTA collected more than 55 lakh of cow hides which was near about 100 million square feet, he added.
The prices of hide are yet to be fixed this year and the sector leaders would hold a meeting on October 3 for this purpose, the BTA chairman said.
Expressing fear of smuggling, Shaheen urged the government for tight security in the border areas as this year Indian rupee depreciated against dollar.
He also urged the government to approve a credit fund of at least Tk 450 crore for the tannery owners as soon as possible.
Former secretary of the BTA Shakawath Ullah said that they were worried for the depreciation of dollar against Taka as the prices of hide depend on the international market.
‘We hope that the supply of rawhide will be available this year, but many traders fear loss due to appreciation of Taka against Dollar,’ he said.
Shakawath, also the owner of Salma Tannery, said that they collect 55 per cent of hide of their yearly procurement during Eid-ul-Azha.
Export earning growth of leather sector is gradually increasing as manufacturers are producing more value-added products and they have set an export target of Tk 700 crore for the current fiscal year, said Belal Hossain, chairman of Bangladesh Finished Leather, Leather Goods and Footwear Exporters’ Association.
Rawhides production will increase this year as it is an election year, he added.
-With New Age input
