Hides and Skins: Net sales of 410,400 pieces for 2015, all whole cattle hides, were down 19 percent from the previous week, but up 9 percent from the prior 4-week average. Increases were primarily for China (259,700 pieces), South Korea (87,300 pieces), Thailand (27,100 pieces), and Mexico (23,800 pieces). Exports of 459,000 pieces were up 4 percent from the previous week and 16 percent from the prior 4-week average. Whole cattle hide exports of 455,600 pieces were primarily to China (320,900 pieces), South Korea (89,000 pieces), Thailand (17,000 pieces), and Mexico (10,500 pieces).

Net sales of 84,700 wet blues for 2015 were down 55 percent from the previous week and 46 percent from the prior 4-week average. Increases were reported for China (71,200 unsplit and 10,500 grain splits), Vietnam (23,500 unsplit), and Japan (4,600 unsplit). Decreases were reported for Taiwan (6,500 grain splits and 5,700 unsplit), South Korea (5,400 unsplit and 3,800 grain splits), Italy (8,000 unsplit), Vietnam (5,300 grain splits), and India (1,300 unsplit). Exports of 168,200 wet blues were primarily to China (47,700 unsplit and 5,700 grain splits), Italy (25,200 unsplit), Mexico (18,800 grain splits and 2,100 unsplit), and Vietnam (11,300 unsplit and 7,300 grain splits). Net sales reductions of splits totaling 24,800 pounds for 2015 resulted as increases for Taiwan (1,349,300 pounds), China (182,400 pounds), and Italy (10,100 pounds), were more than offset by decreases for South Korea (1,566,600 pounds). Exports of 1,008,000 pounds were reported to South Korea (817,400 pounds), Hong Kong (150,000 pounds), and Taiwan (40,600 pounds).