U.S. EXPORT SALES FOR WEEK ENDING 4/18/2013

Hides and Skins:  Net sales of 445,300 pieces reported for 2013 were down 17 percent from the previous week and 3 percent from the prior 4-week average.  Whole cattle hide sales of 435,500 pieces were primarily for China (225,600 pieces, including 2,100 pieces switched from unknown destinations and decreases of 16,700 pieces), South Korea (123,300 pieces, including 1,600 pieces switched from China), Taiwan (59,400 pieces), Vietnam (11,300 pieces), and Hong Kong (6,400 pieces).  Exports of 450,300 pieces were down 8 percent from the previous week and unchanged from the prior 4-week average.  Whole cattle exports of 447,600 pieces were primarily to China (285,400 pieces), South Korea (86,600 pieces), Taiwan (33,800 pieces), Thailand (11,200 pieces), and Mexico (9,800 pieces).     

Net sales of 237,600 wet blues for 2013 were primarily for Italy (128,500 unsplit), China (58,600 unsplit), Mexico (19,600 grain splits), and the Dominican Republic (8,000 unsplit and 7,200 grain splits).  Decreases were reported for India (2,700 unsplit).  Exports of 227,100 hides were primarily to China (69,200 unsplit), Italy (47,800 unsplit), Vietnam (40,800 unsplit), and Mexico (27,600 grain splits).  Net sales of splits totaling 12,600 pounds resulted as increases for Taiwan (29,200 pounds) and Italy (5,600 pounds), were partially offset by decreases for South Korea (22,000 pounds) and India (200 pounds).  Exports of 372,600 pounds were to South Korea (272,600 pounds) and Hong Kong (100,000 pounds).