Swakara still in demand despite recession

DESPITE the global economic crisis, Swakara pelts reach record prices and 100 per cent sales when 70 035 pelts came under the hammer at the Agra pelt auction in the Danish capital of Copenhagen last week.

The pelts offered consisted of 61 093 black, 5 841, white, 451 brown and 2 650 miscellaneous pelts.
A record price of N$1 641 was paid for a lot of 63 D light stretched select pelts compared to the previous record price of N$1 350 obtained in April 2008.
It was bought by Ukrainian fur producer and retailer Oleg Dudenko.
Agra’s Communication Officer, Albé Snyman, said pelts sold for an average price of N$321.79.
This is 18,31 per cent lower than the average price of N$393.92 achieved in September 2008.
Snyman said 29 buyers purchased the pelts, adding that other active bidders were not successful.
Of the 29 bidders, agents from Hong Kong, Japan and England bought the bulk. Hong Kong topped the bidders’ list followed by Japan and England.
Bidders from Greece, Italy, USA and Germany also actively participated in the auction, said Snyman.
Snyman said many bidders speculated before the auction that prices would be lower because of the global recession.
The top Namibian producer – PA Karstens of Karasburg who sold 250 pelts – achieved an average price of N$442.82 per lot, while South Africa’s top producer, who sold 556 pelts, achieved an average price of N$402. 84.
luqman@namibian.com.na