The following are highlights from the Sandy Parker Reports, Weekly International Fur News, reproduced with permission. Sandy Parker has been covering the fur industry for over 40 years. For the last 30 years he has published a weekly newsletter, detailing the results of all the major international pelt auctions, wholesale price trends, business developments and movements within the trade, as well as economic and political activities that may impact on it.

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International Fur News
with Sandy Parker

Mink prices still heading upward

MINK PRICES APPEAR TO BE CONTINUING ON THEIR UPWARD PATH AND SETTING NEW RECORDS as Russian and Chinese interests stay the course in their pursuit of fresh goods to replace what those markets are rapidly consuming. This has been a cold winter in those countries, as it has been elsewhere, but more favorable economic conditions there have provided the extra impetus to send retail sales soaring. Buyers heading to Toronto for this week's big sale at North American Fur Auctions were expecting mink prices to be at least firm to the high levels reached at the recent sale in Seattle, but looking for dark males to move even higher under Russian pressure.

Although this week's offering is larger than Seattle's, the overall supply of North American mink is limited, amounting to only a fraction of the total world crop and usually commanding a premium. This is the larger of NAFA's two mink sales and the company has expanded its auction room in anticipation of a record attendance, particularly from Hong Kong/China and Greece/Russia. It was the Russian pressure that pushed the dark males to new highs at the American Legend sale and indications are that the same pressure will be evident at this week's auction.

THE STRENGTH OF THE RUSSIAN MARKET WAS AMPLY EVIDENT AT THE HONG KONG FAIR LAST WEEK, where that contingent made itself felt throughout the big show. The four-day event got off to a good start despite some trepidation among buyers about the sharply higher wholesale prices. According to veteran observers, prices were up about 30% over last year's opening levels, reflecting a series of increases at the skin level. But while the higher price lists may have caused American and other Western buyers to pull in their horns, they apparently were no problem for Russian and other Eastern European interests.

IN THIS ISSUE:

Mink Prices Still Heading Upward
Russia, China Main Propellants
Price Resistance at Hong Kong Fair...
...but Business Reported to Be O.K.
Russia Again Is Main Customer

For back issues of Sandy Parker Reports see News Index.

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