WILD FUR UPDATE – FALL 2017 - Hot off the press!!!

[Marty S]

(I can't find a link for this update yet)



WILD FUR UPDATE – FALL 2017
A message from Herman Jansen, Managing Director:

Dear Wild Fur Shipper,

We are continuously looking at ways of reaching more potential buyers and trust with hard work we will succeed again in
making wild fur more profitable for all of our producers.
On October 18 & 19, we are holding an on-line auction in Yuyao, China in conjunction with our on-line auction partners,
FURCHINA, and we will be holding workshops in the Chinese manufacturing areas prior to this auction, with sections of these
workshops specifically dedicated to wild fur.
We continue to receive inquiries from the trade on available unsold wild fur and this will continue through the early fall. These
inquiries, through traditional markets, combined with our aggressive approach into places like China, will no doubt provide us
with an opportunity to sell most of the unsold skins. We will be issuing an account sale for these in October.
For next season, articles like muskrat and raccoon should be selling at higher price levels. Beaver are saleable and in good
demand from the hatter business, but unfortunately at unsatisfactory levels. Better trimming articles like coyote are still in
fashion and the better sections will command high prices again next season. Due to a softening in price in the slight casty
and casty bellies this past season, there is some question whether lynx cats with a 2/3 and 3/4 colour belly will see better
demand from the fashion world. 1/2 belly colours sold very well last season and will continue to bring sizable premiums again
this season. Can/Am Sable started off strong, but finished slightly weaker, although the bigger sizes of quality skins should
again bring respectable prices.
This past season was one of recovery. The results were up and down and not always consistent. The road to recovery is
tough, but we are seeing light at the end of the tunnel. We believe the overall market has improved, with ranch mink prices
strengthening by approximately 10% since our July sale.
With modern and improved technology, there are many possibilities for us as a company and you as a producer to be more
efficient and cost effective. Next season we will be working on going paperless and looking at many of our costs to see where
and how we can improve. In the future, we would like to see our wild fur producers attach their own ID tags to their skins. Last
season we ordered and received samples from skin tag manufacturers and we used these on coyotes through the dressing and
manufacturing processes to test for durability and traceability. This year we will be working with the WFSC and our collectors
to expand these trials to get more of our wild fur producers involved.
Although times are tough, we as your marketing company continue to spend money on modern technology and new, innovative
marketing tools. FURCHINA, our new skin tag initiative and our expanding workshop program are examples of our commitment
to the future of wild fur.
What we need now is a cold winter and your continuous loyal support in NAFA’s promotional program.
205 INDUSTRIAL CIRCLE, STOUGHTON, WI, 53589, USA
T EL: 1.608.205.9200 | FA X: 1.608.205.9210 | W W W.NAFA.CA
65 SK Y WAY AVE, TORON TO, ON M9W 6C7 CANADA
T EL : 1.416.675.9320 | FA X : 1.416.675.6 865 | W W W.NAFA .CA


     





      
09/29/2017
VISION 2020: FUR CERTIFICATION AND TRACEABILITY AT NAFA
In October 2016, NAFA initially published its policy position on Fur Certification and Traceability, entitled Vision 2020. This
document, which was updated in March, is available on NAFA’s website, and outlines our plans to implement these programs
as we move towards 2020.
Since NAFA’s Vision 2020 was announced, it has generated a lot of discussion. Here are the top 10 points you need to know:
1. We guarantee that any program NAFA puts in place will NOT impact your ability to harvest and market your furs
under your State laws, regulations and trapping license.
2. NAFA has and always will respect our wild fur shippers, and we will always look into programs that enhance
the value of your wild fur.
3. Ranch fur producers in North America and Europe are currently developing certification programs. Our biggest ranch fur
competitors, including SAGA (FHA’s marketing partner in Europe), have committed to selling ONLY certified furs by 2020.
NAFA will always sell your furs. We will never refuse to sell legally harvested wild fur.
4. Our customers, some of the world’s most influential fashion brands and fur garment producers, are requesting fur traceability
and certification to continue using wild furs. Some companies now have policies not to use wild furs, choosing instead only
certified ranch fur, because it comes with assurances for their customers and shareholders. This is a missed opportunity
that costs our wild fur shippers money and market share.
5. Requests for certified and traceable furs are also coming from our largest customers in Asia. These customers influence
the sable market and dominate the coyote and fisher markets.
6. Vision 2020 is designed to reassure our customers and consumers that fur is produced and harvested responsibly,
and that they can feel comfortable buying and wearing NAFA furs.
7. It is important to remember, this is not just about fur. In the marketplace today, whether its food, sports equipment,
automobiles, wine or clothing, the most successful brands from Ford, to Adidas, to Canada Goose, recognize that consumers
either require it, or will pay more to have it.
8. Wild fur traceability is already done by NAFA, and has been done for many years. We are now piloting two projects to
allow our customers to trace furs from Country of Origin, through dressing and manufacturing, to the consumer. Currently
this is not offered by anyone, and is important to our biggest customers.
9. In order for their furs to be sold as certified, NAFA wild fur shippers will be asked to sign a self-declaration. This
self-declaration will be associated with the individual shipper’s NAFA account number, and will be tracked and updated
on an annual basis to ensure trapper licensing and relevant information is current. While compliance may be verified by
designated NAFA staff in response to a customer’s request, trapper self-declarations are for internal use only. NAFA
will NOT release any private information of our shippers.
10. The certification of Wild Fur is a long-term process that will take years to implement. We are receiving input from our
wild fur shippers and customers as we develop the details of fur certification. This is a collaborative effort to satisfy the
demands of consumers, and to enhance the value of your wild fur.
If you have questions about this program, please contact NAFA Communications at Communications3@nafa.ca.
NAFA Mink Designed by Michael Kors
205 INDUSTRIAL CIRCLE, STOUGHTON, WI, 53589, USA
T EL: 1.608.205.9200 | FA X: 1.608.205.9210 | W W W.NAFA.CA
65 SK Y WAY AVE, TORON TO, ON M9W 6C7 CANADA
T EL : 1.416.675.9320 | FA X : 1.416.675.6 865 | W W W.NAFA .C

[pikeman06]

Thanks Marty. Was wondering when they would give us a new market forecast. I have a fair bunch of muskrats to ship that I put up and froze. Never used the f.h.a but I like their prices on muskrats. Maybe ship half there and half to nafa or what would you do.

[Marty S]

I would continue to watch if I was holding muskrats. There is a mountain of ranch mink in the fur pipeline, an actual glut, always bad for the fur market, normally a horrible thing if you are into muskrats.

The big one is this... IF we get a very cold winter worldwide the market could change drastically in a matter of a month or two, and in particular if this happens timely before Christmas. The demand for the fur still exists, cold winters move volumes fast and send manufacturers into a panic as we watched about 5 years ago, the last time we seen the perfect storm set into the market, which would have continued had Mr Putin behaved himself.

Barring that scenario, for some reason unknown to me, muskrats are still moving and the current trend/belief is that the price is climbing, as the ranch mink stocks slowly "dwindle???" There has been much protection for the ranch mink the past number of years and it continues, undoubtedly in hopes of Russia being able to re-enter the fur market grande scale, plus the perfect winter... and look out if both happen at the same time.

For now, a slow steady price climb is expected in the rat market. However, by the time last receiving date comes along, we will all be much smarter!

[pikeman06]

Thanks Marty. Its always a gamble shipping early to an unknown market....sure would like my freezer space back tho.

[Marty S]

The wise thing to do is to ship as you catch, in season, and play the averages. Then simply go get more. If you understand the market, then by all means play the game. If not, then while you have a decent market, sell and go get more.

Rats at this point in the market is a risky business, can easily go either way. Cold winter and Putin conforms to the west, win win win... BIG! Mink continue to stagnate or worse get dumped , warm winter, and the rat market you have right now can fade into oblivion.