Harp seal revenues up sharply

SANDY PARKER REPORT, VOL. 30, ISSUE 25, AUGUST 28, 2006
The following extract is reproduced with permission from Sandy Parker Reports, Weekly International Fur News. Sandy Parker has been covering the fur industry for more than four decades. For most of that time he has published a weekly newsletter, detailing results of international pelt auctions, wholesale price trends, business developments and movements in the trade, as well as economic and political activities that may impact on it.
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International Fur News
with Sandy Parker
Harp seal revenues up sharply
INCREASED WORLD DEMAND FOR SEALSKINS has brought sharply higher revenues for this year’s Canadian harp seal harvest. The gains were said to have more than offset the higher cost of boat fuel, while providing sealers and other workers with greater income from the pelts, meat and fat. According to figures compiled by the Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans and released last week, this year’s harvest off the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador amounted to 296,000 seals with a total value of $27 million (Canadian). In addition, the value of seals taken in Quebec Province was $2.7 million. By comparison, the value of last year’s harvest of approximately the same size was $17.5 million.
THIS YEAR’S AUCTION SEASON IS NOW APPROACHING ITS CONCLUSION AND, notwithstanding the slight easing that took place at its midpoint, the price structure appears to be winding up several notches above where it opened. That translates into the kind of rising market that the fur trade has usually found indicative of a profitable year, along with such demand factors as fashion and the weather. Thus, with the retail season just around the corner, it would seem that at least two critical factors – fashion and a solid footing under prices – are in place. Even the economy in the leading markets appears to favor consumer spending.
At this point, the North American and Western European markets are still in a summer vacation mode and new activity at the wholesale level is practically at a standstill. Vendors are receiving their shipments from overseas suppliers and are busy inspecting them before delivery to their accounts. Here and there some procrastinating retailers are still straggling in for a first look at this year’s collections, but are said to be buying very little,
IN THIS ISSUE:
Profit Prospects Looking Bright
Price Structure Holding Firm
Retailers Await Cooler Temps…
…but Still Hold Off on Ads
Harp Seal Revenues Up Sharply
For extracts from back issues of Sandy Parker Reports see News Index. Subscribers can access an archive of complete issues at www.sandyparker.com.
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