S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.11 No.39, September 29 2025
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Increased minimum duties application – SAFLIA ‘keeps nagging’
Umhlanga, KZN, SA – SAFLIA’s application to the International Trade Administration (ITAC) to increase the minimum duty on most imported footwear, from R5/pair to R20/pair, and in the case of safety footwear, to R50/pair, is still “in the process”, according to SAFLIA executive director Jirka Vymĕtal, speaking last week.
After 4 years of research and negotiation with ITAC, SAFLIA first made the application to cover 27 tariff lines on 29 March this year, and on 02 April asked that the 8 tariff lines covering safety footwear be subject to the R50/pair rate.
“I just keep on making a nuisance of myself,” he said. “I was approaching my contact once a week, now it’s fortnightly.
“It would be really good to get some finality about this. Many of our members – and the unions – keep pressurising me to find out. It’s more than important – it’s vital, and it’s been going on for a very long time.”
When S&V approached ITAC for comment in July, it said it “aims to finalise its ordinary customs duty tariff amendment investigation within a six-month period”, followed by recommendations to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition.
Birkenstock growth ahead of forecast as it expands EU manufacturing capacity
London, UK (25 September 2025) AFSIC – Birkenstock Holding plc last week said it expects its fiscal 2025 revenues will “total at least €2.09 billion, ahead of its prior guidance”. It has also bought a production facility near Dresden, Germany, for €18 million.
It said it expected 4th quarter revenues to total “at least €520 million, growth of at least 14% on a reported basis and 18% in constant currency.
“This would result in full year revenue of at least €2.09 billion, growth of 15.9% on a reported basis and 17.5% in constant currency, above guidance of 15-17%.”
The new factory includes 78,000 m² of production and logistics space and 80,000 m² of undeveloped land.
“The facility was built and expanded between 1992 and 2012. The opportunity to acquire this property for the attractive price of €240/m² arose due to the bankruptcy of its current owner. The acquisition will fast track the Company's manufacturing capacity build up plans at a favourable cost to a new build. The factory is expected to be operational by the end of fiscal 2027. The incremental capacity will support Birkenstock's revenue growth ambition and allow for more flexibility among product groups. In the first phase, the facility will add to the sandal, clog and footbed capacity. Birkenstock will continue to look for opportunities to acquire assets in the European Union.”
World’s largest feedlot still under foot-and-mouth disease quarantine
Heidelberg, Gauteng, SA Karan Beef’s 2 300-hectare Heidelberg feedlot, the largest of its 3 feedlots and claimed to be the world’s largest cattle feedlot, is still under foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) quarantine, first imposed at the beginning of June.
“We are not allowed to bring cattle into our facility yet; we are only allowed to process what we have,” director Avron Karan said in an email.
Karan Beef supplies all its hides to automotive leather tannery Bader SA.
In case you missed it!
The September issue of S&V African Leather Magazine
S&V African Leather Magazine Vol19 No9 September 2025
IN THIS ISSUE:
03 Sam Setter’s ‘Pills’
- A new quip from Sam Setter in each issue.
05 Upfront
- Pangea ‘Maintaining status quo in quiet market’.
- ‘I can’t see leather being replaced in our lifetime,’ says New Mossop sales manager, Samantha O’Neill.
- Topsoil expands into finished goods, writes Wilson Mutale.
07 An Eclectic View
- Peptide manufacture – the tanning industry has to reconsider has to relook at what it does, writes correspondent H. Procter.
10 Leather, Its Image & Its Place In The World
- Carbon calculation for the leather industry, and why it matters. The Sustainable Leather Foundation’s Deborah Taylor explains.
- Only Natural Design Competition winners.
13 Weights & Measures
- Compiled by the ISTT.
Advertisers in this Issue
Authenticae (04), International School of Tanning Technology (ISTT) (06), Mimosa (02), Rolfes Leather Division (OFC), S&V Calendar (01), S&V Directory (03), Southern African Footwear & Leather Export Council (SAFLEC) (09), Sustainable Leather Foundation (08).
They Said It
"1991. Hairline wouldn’t tell the same story!" - Gary de Vogel, CEO of Hi-Tec Sports Distributors, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA, responding to a request for his date of birth for our birthday list. He turns 34 in December.
Got anything you'd like to share?
Do you have any suggestions, comments or experiences about the industry that you'd like to share with the industry? - tony@svmag.co.za
Birthdays this week
29/09/1942: Moon Govender, Arc Footwear, Durban, KZN, SA.
29/09/1957: Monica Hoffman, Chafkins, Benoni, Gauteng, SA.
29/09/1959: Ismail Haffejee, Capri Bag, Durban, KZN, SA.
29/09/1962: Venessa Schmid, The Whatnot, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
29/09/1963: Gavin Wilkins, formerly Watson Shoes, Great Brak River, W. Cape, and Eddels Shoes, Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
29/09/1967: Hitesh Motiram, Nakuls, White River, Mpumalanga, SA.
29/09/1968: Milton Zwart, Ribtech, Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
29/09/1964: Denzil Spolander, African Gameskin Group, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
29/09/1976: Brad Isaacson, agent, Durban, KZN, SA.
30/09/1944: Dennis Wilkens, emigrated, formerly Martin Johnson [closed], Pietermaritzburg, KZN, SA.
30/09/1950: Mohamed Farouk Limbada, Kirimon Traders, Durban, KZN, SA.
30/09/1966: P ‘Segie’ Govender, RNT Footwear, New Germany, KZN, SA.
01/10/1944: Ian Smith, Faulks (Durban, KZN, SA), G&D Shoes (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, closed) Flair (Cape Town, W. Cape, SA, closed), Studio Shoes (Port Elizabeth, E Cape, SA, closed), Panther (Cape Town, W. Cape, SA, closed), Elliott (Cape Town, W. Cape, SA, closed), G&D, China various. Retired to Plettenberg Bay, W. Cape, SA.
01/10/1960: Amanda McCarthy, Groundcover Leather Company, Curry’s Post, KZN, SA.
01/10/1964: Steven Broughton, Cape Produce Company, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
02/10/1964: Mano Nair, Shoe Quip, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
02/10/1947: Ronnie Ackermann, Curio City, Knysna, W. Cape, SA.
02/10/1962: Johan Bezuidenhout, Hidskin Processors, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
03/10/1969: Robby Stoller, Dangee Corporation, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
04/10/1939: Basil Tannenbaum, XLNT Agencies, Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA.
04/10/1948: Barry Moon, former Durban agent, retired to Hermanus, W. Cape, SA.
05/10/1961: Russell Addinall, Studio Eclectica, Lions River, KZN, SA.
In memoriam this week
29/09/2012: Richard McCulley (b. 14/09/1964), agent, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
29/09/2004: Noel Eric Teifel (b. 06/03/1928), NE Teifel & Co, Midrand, Gauteng, SA.
02/10/1998: Sarel Roets, Leatherite, Pretoria, Gauteng, SA.
Have you let us know about your birthday, or the birthdays of your colleagues? Our readers love this section, so please become part of it. This also applies to the In Memoriam section. Help us remember former colleagues.
New subscribers last week
Fazul Mohamed Zahir, Group CEO, Premier Clothing Group, Gaborone, Botswana
Samantha O'Neill, Sales Manager, Mossop Leather, Wellington, South Africa
Feraw Kebede, Footwear consultant and trainer, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Directory entries updated last week
BBF Safety Group (Pty) Ltd, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
BBF Safety Group (Pty) Ltd – Pinetown factory, Pinetown, KZN, SA.
BBF Safety Group (Pty) Ltd – Port Elizabeth factory, Port Elizabeth, E. Cape, SA.
BBF Safety Group (Pty) Ltd – Wayne Gumboot division, Roodepoort, Gauteng, SA.
Buccaneer Shoes [Onshelf Investments 73 (Pty) Ltd], Cape Town, W. Cape, SA.
JD Outfitters cc, Durban, KZN, SA.
Pangea SA (Pty) Ltd, Nigel, Gauteng, SA.
Price Rite / Jamming Clothing [Hi Style Fashions cc], Welkom, Free State, SA.
Exchange rates
Note: For previous rates, see HERE
1. SA Rand (ZAR)/Lesotho Loti (LSL)/Namibian Dollar (NAD)/Swazi Lilangeni (SZL)
Source: http://www.x-rates.com/calculator/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 05/07/2025 |
R20.70 |
R24.00 |
R17.58 |
R 2.45 |
| 12/07/2025 |
R20.93 |
R24.18 |
R17.90 |
R 2.49 |
| 19/07/2025 |
R20.60 |
R23.78 |
R17.72 |
R 2.46 |
| 28/07/2025 |
R20.82 |
R23.90 |
R17.81 |
R 2.48 |
| 04/08/2025 |
R20.79 |
R23.87 |
R17.98 |
R 2.50 |
| 09/08/2025 |
R20.62 |
R23.85 |
R17.74 |
R 2.49 |
| 17/08/2025 |
R20.59 |
R23.85 |
R17.60 |
R 2.45 |
| 24/08/2025 |
R20.44 |
R23.55 |
R17.43 |
R 2.43 |
| 30/08/2025 |
R20.62 |
R23.83 |
R17.65 |
R 2.47 |
| 06/09/2025 |
R20.59 |
R23.70 |
R17.57 |
R 2.46 |
| 13/09/2025 |
R20.38 |
R23.54 |
R17.37 |
R 2.43 |
| 20/09/2025 |
R20.36 |
R23.38 |
R17.33 |
R 2.43 |
| 27/09/2025 |
R20.30 |
R23.23 |
R17.34 |
R 2.43 |
2. Botswana Pula
Source: http://www.x-rates.com/calculator/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
CNY ¥ |
| 05/07/2025 |
15.58 |
18.07 |
13.23 |
1.84 |
| 12/07/2025 |
14.77 |
17.07 |
12.64 |
1.76 |
| 19/07/2025 |
16.22 |
18.72 |
13.95 |
1.94 |
| 28/07/2025 |
15.81 |
18.16 |
13.53 |
1.88 |
| 04/08/2025 |
15.75 |
18.09 |
13.62 |
1.89 |
| 09/08/2025 |
16.58 |
19.17 |
14.26 |
1.98 |
| 17/08/2025 |
16.57 |
19.22 |
14.18 |
1.97 |
| 24/08/2025 |
16.89 |
19.45 |
14.40 |
2.01 |
| 30/08/2025 |
16.78 |
19.40 |
14.36 |
2.01 |
| 06/09/2025 |
16.45 |
18.93 |
14.04 |
1.96 |
| 13/09/2025 |
16.67 |
19.26 |
14.21 |
1.99 |
| 20/09/2025 |
16.63 |
19.10 |
14.16 |
1.99 |
| 27/09/2025 |
15.68 |
17.94 |
13.40 |
1.87 |
3. Malawian Kwacha (MWK) (buying)
Source: https://www.rbm.mw/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
ZAR |
| 05/07/2025 |
2082.80 |
2416.70 |
1717.02 |
100.70 |
| 12/07/2025 |
2065.11 |
2393.71 |
1717.02 |
99.44 |
| 19/07/2025 |
2054.50 |
2372.84 |
1717.02 |
99.43 |
| 28/07/2025 |
2072.89 |
2372.13 |
1717.02 |
99.60 |
| 04/08/2025 |
2043.89 |
2346.49 |
1717.02 |
98.34 |
| 09/08/2025 |
2059.63 |
2374.43 |
1717.02 |
99.76 |
| 17/08/2025 |
2063.52 |
2395.47 |
1717.02 |
100.69 |
| 24/08/2025 |
2050.79 |
2370.89 |
1717.02 |
99.83 |
| 30/08/2025 |
2062.64 |
2386.46 |
1717.02 |
99.78 |
| 06/09/2025 |
2064.05 |
2381.33 |
1717.02 |
99.85 |
| 13/09/2025 |
2074.13 |
2396.36 |
1717.02 |
101.76 |
| 20/09/2025 |
2082.09 |
2388.75 |
1717.02 |
101.85 |
| 27/09/2025 |
2065.29 |
2361.70 |
1717.02 |
101.40 |
4. Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) (buying)
Source: https://www.boz.zm/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US $ |
ZAR |
| 05/07/2025 |
28.57 |
33.11 |
24.25 |
1.37 |
| 12/07/2025 |
27.16 |
31.38 |
23.24 |
1.29 |
| 19/07/2025 |
26.77 |
30.91 |
22.95 |
1.29 |
| 28/07/2025 |
27.37 |
31.38 |
23.36 |
1.31 |
| 04/08/2025 |
Website would not open this morning |
| 09/08/2025 |
27.01 |
31.13 |
23.18 |
1.30 |
| 17/08/2025 |
27.13 |
31.48 |
23.21 |
1.31 |
| 24/08/2025 |
26.97 |
31.16 |
23.22 |
1.31 |
| 30/08/2025 |
27.47 |
31.69 |
23.55 |
1.32 |
| 06/09/2025 |
28.03 |
32.32 |
23.87 |
1.36 |
| 13/09/2025 |
27.88 |
32.25 |
23.81 |
1.36 |
| 20/09/2025 |
27.79 |
32.85 |
23.62 |
1.35 |
| 27/09/2025 |
27.79 |
31.82 |
23.77 |
1.36 |
5. Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG)
Source: Source: https://www.rbz.co.zw/
| |
Euro € |
GBP £ |
US$ |
ZAR |
| 05/07/2025 |
ZIG 31.68 |
ZIG 36.78 |
ZIG 26.89 |
ZIG 0.65 |
| 12/07/2025 |
ZIG 31.35 |
ZIG 36.40 |
ZIG 26.83 |
ZIG 0.66 |
| 19/07/2025 |
ZIG 31.13 |
ZIG 35.96 |
ZIG 26.80 |
ZIG 0.66 |
| 28/07/2025 |
ZIG 31.45 |
ZIG 35.98 |
ZIG 26.79 |
ZIG 0.66 |
| 04/08/2025 |
ZIG 31.02 |
ZIG 35.58 |
ZIG 26.79 |
ZIG 0.67 |
| 04/08/2025 |
Website would not open on Saturday |
| 17/08/2025 |
ZIG 31.17 |
ZIG 36.22 |
ZIG 26.78 |
ZIG 0.66 |
| 24/08/2025 |
ZIG 30.99 |
ZIG 35.83 |
ZIG 26.75 |
ZIG 0.66 |
| 30/08/2025 |
ZIG 31.20 |
ZIG 36.10 |
ZIG 26.75 |
ZIG 0.66 |
| 06/09/2025 |
ZIG 31.17 |
ZIG 35.93 |
ZIG 26.71 |
ZIG 0.66 |
| 13/09/2025 |
ZIG 31.35 |
ZIG 36.23 |
ZIG 26.72 |
ZIG 0.65 |
| 20/09/2025 |
ZIG 31.28 |
ZIG 35.99 |
ZIG 26.56 |
ZIG 0.65 |
| 27/09/2025 |
ZIG 31.03 |
ZIG 35.48 |
ZIG 26.57 |
ZIG 0.65 |
Note: For previous rates, see HERE
ABSA Agri Trends: Hides & skins prices
Johannesburg, Gauteng, SA (19 September 2025) – The current average hide price decreased by 0.21% to R2.3325/kg from R2.330/kg a week ago. The current price is 1.37% higher than the average price a month ago and was 17.3% lower than the average price a year ago. The range of prices reported was as follows: Minimum price: R2.25 Maximum price: R2.85. Please note: Our methodology weighs the prices we collect according to the number of hides they sell in a month. This is done to make it more representative of the prevailing market price. NB* Hide prices are determined by the average of the RMAA (Red Meat Abattoir Association) and independent companies. - Marlene Louw, senior agricultural economist, Nkhensani Mashimbyi, agricultural economist, and Zama Sangweni, agricultural economist, ABSA group.
Note: For previous prices, see HERE
Have a look at these links
We invite businesses to send us links to websites, Facebook pages and the like which they feel would be of interest to others. The links below are from our database:
Hyve Group PLC, Birmingham, UK. Trade fair organiser.
The Lot Collective, Cape Town, W. Cape, SA. Women’s online retailer.
THIS WEEK LAST YEAR!
Luxury stocks are heading to the clearance bin
Medicus to distribute Rockport
READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.10 No.40, September 30 2024
THIS WEEK FIVE YEARS AGO!!
Retail
- Botswana
-- Business 'is very tricky'
- Lesotho
-- People have to shop at home
- South Africa
-- Jet: TFG awaiting clearance on neighbouring state stores
Adidas explains decision not to supply Edgars
Manufacturing
- South Africa
-- IDC publicises new funding scheme
READ IT HERE - S&V Weekly Newsletter Vol.6 No.39, Sept 28, 2020
NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
All the past S&V Weekly Newsletters from January 2016 onwards are available in the newsletter archive.
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Contact us
News & Classifieds: Tony Dickson, +27 (0)31 209 7505, tony@svmag.co.za
Next newsletter: Monday 06 October, 2025. Ad and editorial deadline Friday 03 October.
SAFLIA enquiries: Tel 0800SAFLIA * Email info@saflia.co.za * Website http://www.saflia.co.za
Our website www.svmag.co.za
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