Official statistics key to China's fur farming industry

The official statistics on fur production released in 2014 by the China Leather Industry Association is expected to facilitate the development of the country's fur farming industry.

The latest report released by China Leather Industry Association shows that the production of mink, fox and raccoon pelts soared in 2014, with 60 million mink pelts, 13 million fox pelts and 14 million raccoon pelts produced, up 50 percent, 30 percent and 16.7 percent year-on-year respectively.

The report covers all the major fur farming areas in China, where over 80 percent of the gross production was generated, including 17 cities in Shandong province, 11 in Hebei, eight in Liaoning and nine in Jilin. More areas are included compared with the 2013 report.

The China Leather Industry Association, authorized by the State Forestry Administration, started to collect data on the fur production of mink, fox and raccoon pelts in 2011, in an effort to help the practitioners make production plans and boost the scientific and sustainable development of the industry.

The annual official statistical report is of great significance as it provides guidance for China's fur farming industry, which is closely connected to the core issues of the country's rural reform, according to the China Leather Industry Association.

The thriving industry, which involves some five million laborers, helps people achieve prosperity and maintain social stability by creating jobs for the surplus labor force in rural areas.

"As the world's largest producer of fur-bearing animals, accounting for more than half of the world's total fur production, China's fur farming industry is crucial to a balanced world market," said Su Chaoying, the chairman of China Leather Industry Association.

However, no statistical analyses were carried out until 2011 and no official reports were released until 2013, as the industry was considered unimportant to the national economy and the people's livelihood. Besides, the vast and scattered farming areas pose a great challenge for data collection, said Su.

With no official statistics available to the farmers to make sound plans for their production, supply outstripped demand from time to time, cutting profit or even causing losses to farmers. It also contributed to the imbalanced development of the industry, according to the report.

The association urges farmers to pay close attention to fluctuations in the market, strengthen ties with downstream industries and consult the association's annual report before making production plans.

"We will continue to provide statistics on the country's production of mink, fox and raccoon fur to help the farmers," said the representative of Fur Breeders Commission of China Leather Industry Association.