Hides and Skins: Net sales of 420,500 pieces for 2015 were up 2 percent from the previous week and 8 percent from the prior 4-week average. Whole cattle hide sales of 422,500 pieces were primarily for China (268,500 pieces), South Korea (99,200 pieces), Mexico (31,500 pieces), and Taiwan (8,300 pieces). Exports of 451,200 pieces were down 2 percent from the previous week, but up 7 percent from the prior 4-week average. Whole cattle hide exports of 437,700 pieces were primarily to China (296,700 pieces), South Korea (98,300 pieces), Mexico (18,700 pieces), and Taiwan (7,500 pieces).

Net sales of 258,500 wet blues for 2015 were up noticeably from the previous week and 88 percent from the prior 4-week average. Increases were reported for Italy (118,900 unsplit and 40,600 grain splits), Mexico (35,100 grain splits and 16,100 unsplit), Vietnam (6,500 unsplit and 6,300 grain splits), China (12,700 grain splits), and Thailand (12,200 unsplit). Decreases were reported for China (11,800 unsplit). Exports of 198,300 wet blues were primarily to Italy (64,300 unsplit and 8,600 grain splits), China (58,800 unsplit and 7,900 grain splits), Vietnam (12,800 unsplit and 3,600 grain splits), and Mexico (12,900 grain splits and 3,100 unsplit). Net sales of splits totaling 1,122,200 pounds for 2015 for South Korea (974,700 pounds), Italy (611,200 pounds), Hong Kong (150,000 pounds), and China (42,100 pounds), were partially offset by decreases for Taiwan (655,800 pounds). Exports of 1,086,500 pounds were reported to South Korea (679,400 pounds), China (204,100 pounds), and Italy (202,900 pounds).