China, Russia Could Help Hike Fur Sales

China, Russia Could Help Hike Fur Sales

Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 12:11

A spokesman for a fur auction house says he thinks 2010 will be a better year for the industry.

Jim Gibb, of Fur Harvesters Auction Incorporated, says the weather has been colder in China and Russia, leading to more fur sales overseas.

Gibb says there has been especially strong interest in muskrat fur, noting that many Chinese customers have been calling his office in the past month to inquire how many pelts will be available.

“We’ve been trying to pass the word out to the trappers that that’s one of the species for sure that’s going to be in demand, and it’s probably going to be around the $5 average mark,” he says.

Gibb says the price of Russian oil has been climbing as of late too, which means customers in that part of the world will have more money than last year to spend on fur.