According to information which have reached us recently a decree has been prepared in the Belarus Republic on introducing export duties for cattle raw hides in the amount of 500 euro per a ton. It would be reminded that until now owing to much lower export duties rate for raw hides which are currently valid in Belarus, there was a loophole, which permitted Russian raw hides' exporters to save up to 50% of the customs payments.
Notwithstanding the major part of the Russian raw leather is now being exported as "wet-blue", subject to lower duty payment, higher export duties in Belarus against a background of unfavorable world market situation are expected to result in certain price reduction on the Russian internal market.

Source: RLN
31.01.2003