Ostrich Skin
Ostrich skins are the hides of farmed ostrich, taken at slaughter alongside the meat and feather crop. The skin is valued for the raised follicle pattern left where the body feathers were rooted, a quill pattern that appears only on the central back and flank area known as the crown, and for a leather that is soft, thick and unusually durable. It is used for luxury footwear and boots, handbags, wallets, watch straps, belts, garments and upholstery in the highest price tiers of the leather goods trade. The leg skin, which carries a scaled reptilian pattern rather than quills, is traded as a separate article. Farming is concentrated and the crop is small, so the trade is one of counted pieces moving from a handful of producing regions to European, North American and east Asian ateliers.
Listed ostrich skin markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
An ostrich skin contract turns on the part of the bird the skin came from, the size of the quilled crown, the tannage, and a defect count taken in the crown, because the crown is what the article is cut from.
Substrate, tannage and state of processing
7 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Skin typeDeclared | Body skin carrying the quill crown, or leg skin carrying the scale pattern. The two are separate articles at separate prices and they are never substituted. |
| Species and farming systemDeclared | Farmed ostrich, with the farm and abattoir named. Farmed origin is the norm and it is evidenced on the movement and slaughter documents. |
| Preservation or tannageDeclared | Wet salted, pickled, chrome tanned wet blue, crust or finished. Crust is the common international trading form because the finishing tannery selects on the crust. |
| Tanning agentDeclared | Chrome, chrome free, aldehyde or combination. The tannage governs the hand and the drape that the finisher can achieve. |
| Split stateDeclared | Full substance or shaved to a stated thickness. Watch strap and small goods material is shaved to a tight tolerance. |
| Colour stateDeclared | Natural crust, dyed to a stated shade against a sealed swatch, or finished. Colour matching across a lot is a contract term for luxury goods buyers. |
| Age classDeclared | Adult or young bird. Slaughter age governs the follicle definition and the substance of the skin. |
Selection, size and substance
5 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Total areaSquare feet or square decimetres, per skin | Measured on a calibrated measuring machine over the whole skin, including the unquilled apron. |
| Crown sizeCentimetres, as the width across the quilled area | The quilled crown is the saleable part. It is measured across its widest point and the measurement, not the total area, sets the price band. |
| Quill density and definitionAssessed on the crown against a sealed reference sample | How raised, how regular and how closely spaced the follicles are. A dense, well raised, evenly spaced crown is the premium. |
| SubstanceMillimetres, measured at the stated position | Determined under ISO 2589, on the crown and on the apron separately because the two differ. |
| Piece countCount | Skins are traded and shipped as counted pieces with individual identification. |
Grading and defect assessment
9 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| GradeDeclared, as the named grade within the stated ladder | Graded piece by piece on a lighted table by the number and position of defects, with a defect inside the crown weighted far more heavily than the same defect on the apron. |
| Crown defectsCount and position | Any scar, hole, stain or missing follicle inside the quilled area. This is the term that decides the grade. |
| Scratches and pecking damageCount, and depth as grain deep or through | Birds housed together peck and scratch each other. It is the characteristic farm defect and it concentrates on the back and flank. |
| Fence and wire damageCount and position | Rub and cut damage from enclosure fencing, running as a line rather than as isolated marks. |
| Missing or damaged folliclesCount | Follicles pulled out or broken at plucking. It leaves a gap in the pattern that no finishing corrects. |
| Flay cuts and holesCount, and length or size | Damage from the flaying knife. A cut through the crown is an open defect. |
| Vein marks and blood stainingAssessed on the lighted table | Vascular patterning and bruising, worse where the bird was not bled promptly. |
| Colour and shade uniformityAssessed against a sealed swatch under a stated light source | Shade consistency within a piece and across the lot, assessed under the illuminant named in the contract. |
| Fastness to rubbing and lightAssessed under the IUF fastness methods | Colour transfer under dry and wet rubbing, and fading under light exposure, tested for finished and dyed goods. |
Chemical and physical analysis
9 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Chromic oxidePercentage by mass, on the dry weight | Determined under ISO 5398. It is the direct measure of how much chrome the hide has taken and it separates a properly tanned wet blue from an under tanned one. |
| Shrinkage temperatureDegrees Celsius | Determined under ISO 3380. The temperature at which the collagen contracts in water. It is the single most reliable check that the tannage is complete. |
| MoisturePercentage by mass | Determined by oven drying under the IUC method. It governs storage life and it is the difference between a shipped weight and a landed weight. |
| pH and difference figurepH units, measured on an aqueous extract | Determined under ISO 4045. A low pH with a large difference figure indicates free acid that will damage the fibre in storage. |
| Matter soluble in dichloromethanePercentage by mass | Determined under ISO 4048. The fat and oil content, which governs how the material takes further processing. |
| Water soluble matterPercentage by mass | Determined under ISO 4098. Unfixed salts and tanning agents that migrate and bloom on the surface. |
| Chromium VIMilligrams per kilogram, maximum | Determined under ISO 17075. Restricted in leather articles placed on several markets, and tested on arrival rather than taken on trust. |
| FormaldehydeMilligrams per kilogram, maximum | Determined under ISO 17226. Restricted for articles in contact with the skin and for childrens articles. |
| Restricted substancesMilligrams per kilogram, maximum, by named substance | Azo dyes releasing restricted amines, pentachlorophenol, dimethyl fumarate and the substances named on the buyer restricted substances list. |
Delivery, documentation and certification
9 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| PackingDeclared | Palletised and strapped, bundled in packs of a stated count, or drummed. The pack count and the pallet weight are written into the contract. |
| Weight basisDeclared | Shipped weight or landed weight, gross or net of salt, with the survey house named. Weight loss in transit is a normal feature of salted goods and the basis settles who carries it. |
| Veterinary health certificateCertificate, issued by the competent authority of the exporting country | Hides and skins are animal by-products and they move under veterinary control. The certificate names the approved establishment and the treatment applied. |
| Establishment approvalApproval number, issued by the destination authority | European Union approval number or the equivalent registration at the destination, named on the contract where it is required. |
| Convention permitPermit, issued by the exporting country management authority | Required for listed reptile species. The permit number, the species and the piece tags travel with the shipment. |
| TraceabilityDeclared, with the abattoir or collection point named | Country of origin, abattoir and the tannery of processing. Increasingly a contract term rather than a courtesy, because the finished goods brands audit it. |
| Tannery audit and certificationCertificate, with the scheme and rating | Leather Working Group rating, chemical management certification or organic certification, named on the contract when it is contracted. |
| Container and carrying conditionDeclared | Ventilated or reefer stuffing, the carrying temperature and the humidity control. Wet blue and salted goods spoil in a hot container. |
| Restricted substance complianceDeclared, against the named list | Compliance with the destination chemical restrictions and with the buyer restricted substances list, evidenced by test report. |
Grades outside this list trade on request. Send us the contract specification you work to and we will price against it.
Locations
| Country | Region | We trade it as |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal | Origin and destination |
| United States | Midwest and Great Plains packing plants, and the Chicago and Milwaukee trade | Origin and destination |
| Australia | Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria | Origin and destination |
| China | Hebei, Zhejiang, Guangdong and Shandong | Origin and destination |
| Vietnam | Ho Chi Minh City and the southern tanning and footwear cluster | Origin and destination |
| Thailand | Samut Prakan and the Bangkok tanning belt | Origin and destination |
| Italy | Arzignano, Santa Croce sull Arno, Solofra and the Veneto tanning districts | Origin and destination |
| Spain | Igualada, Ubrique and the Levante tanneries | Origin and destination |
| France | Annonay, Graulhet and the Millau skin trade | Origin and destination |
| Germany | Rhineland and Bavaria tanning and automotive leather | Origin and destination |
| Portugal | Alcanena and the northern footwear cluster | Origin and destination |
| United Kingdom | Northamptonshire, the Scottish borders and the West Country | Origin and destination |
| Switzerland | Luxury goods manufacture and the Geneva trade | Destination |
| Japan | Himeji, Tatsuno and the Tokyo leather goods trade | Destination |
| South Korea | Busan and the Seoul leather goods trade | Destination |
| Hong Kong | Trading, re-export and the Greater China supply chain | Destination and trading hub |
| Singapore | Regional trading, finance and re-export | Trading and finance |
| United Arab Emirates | Dubai re-export and Gulf consumption | Destination |
| Turkiye | Tuzla, Corlu, Izmir and Usak | Origin and destination |
| Mexico | Leon and the Guanajuato leather cluster | Origin and destination |
| Brazil | Rio Grande do Sul, Sao Paulo, Parana and the Centre West | Origin and destination |
| Romania | Footwear and leather goods manufacture | Destination |
| Poland | Central and southern tanning and furniture leather | Origin and destination |
| Netherlands | Rotterdam trade and Brabant tanning | Origin and destination |
| Kenya | Nairobi, Nakuru and the Athi River tanneries | Origin and destination |
Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown here.
Timing
Harvest is when the hides and skins come off the killing floor at origin, which follows the slaughter calendar rather than a crop season. Arrival is when a shipment from that origin typically lands in a consuming market. The gap between them is curing or tanning, veterinary clearance and the voyage.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecThe Klein Karoo around Oudtshoorn is the centre of the trade. Slaughter runs year round on a farmed cycle, with crust moving to European and east Asian finishers. |
| United States | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecA smaller farmed crop slaughtered year round, most of it consumed in the domestic boot and western goods trade. |
| Australia | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecA small farmed crop with year round slaughter, moving mainly to east Asian finishers. |
| Kenya | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecA small farmed crop with year round slaughter. |
| Italy | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecA finishing origin rather than a producing one. Arzignano and Santa Croce buy crust and ship finished skins to the luxury goods houses. |
| China | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecFarmed production and a large finishing capacity, buying crust from Africa and shipping finished skins and made up goods. |
Windows outside this pattern trade on request, including carry, forward positions and material already sitting in a destination warehouse.
Customs, packing and contract terms
Indicative terms for ostrich skin. Tariff classification is the importer’s responsibility and limits change, so confirm both against the destination customs authority and the current regulation before you fix a contract.
- HS heading4103.90 Other raw hides and skins, including ostrich
4106.92 Other tanned leather in the dry state (crust) - PackingWet salted hides bundled on pallets with the salt percentage declared, wet blue on 1 t pallets under shrink wrap, dry salted and crust in bales. Salt content and trim standard are the two clauses that decide claims.
- Container loading20ft: 18 t to 22 t wet salted. 40ft for palletised wet blue at around 24 t. Ventilated or reefer stow on long transits to control putrefaction.
- Contract and arbitrationInternational Council of Hides, Skins and Leather Traders Associations contracts, or the terms of the origin association, with arbitration under ICHSLTA rules or at the contract seat. Selection, trim and take-off standard defined at the point of contract.
- Destination limitsStruthio camelus is CITES listed for wild populations, so captive bred source documentation is required. Veterinary health certification under Regulation 2016/429 and animal by-product rules under Regulation 142/2011, plus avian influenza regionalisation controls that suspend origins without notice.
Common questions
What grades of ostrich skin does SIP Global trade?
We quote 39 published grades of ostrich skin, including Skin type - Declared, Species and farming system - Declared, Preservation or tannage - Declared, Tanning agent - Declared, Split state - Declared and Colour state - Declared. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is ostrich skin graded?
An ostrich skin contract turns on the part of the bird the skin came from, the size of the quilled crown, the tannage, and a defect count taken in the crown, because the crown is what the article is cut from. Grading runs on 5 systems: Substrate, tannage and state of processing, Selection, size and substance, Grading and defect assessment, Chemical and physical analysis and Delivery, documentation and certification.
Where does SIP Global trade ostrich skin?
We trade ostrich skin in South Africa, United States, Australia, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Italy and Spain and 17 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is ostrich skin harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are South Africa: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec; United States: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec; Australia: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec; Kenya: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec; Italy: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec. Harvest is when the lot is taken at origin, arrival is when a shipment from that origin lands in a consuming market. Windows outside this pattern, including carry, trade on request.
What is the HS code for ostrich skin?
Ostrich skin is normally classified under HS 4103.90 (other raw hides and skins, including ostrich) and HS 4106.92 (other tanned leather in the dry state (crust)). The heading follows the form the goods are in at the border, and national tariffs extend it beyond six digits, so confirm the full line with the destination customs authority before you fix a contract.
How do I get a price for ostrich skin?
Send the grade, the origin and the delivery window to the SIP Global desk. That is enough for a trader to come back with a level and a settlement route. 1 listed ostrich skin market is published on this page, each with its full specification and terms. We take both sides, physical and financial, prompt to long dated.
Standards and data sources
The grading language on this sheet follows published standards. Trade volumes and tariff lines are public record. Verify anything here against the source.
- ISOInternational Organization for Standardization
- UN ComtradeOfficial international trade statistics by HS code
- ITC Trade MapBilateral trade flows and tariff data
- FAOSTATFAO production and trade series for agricultural commodities
Price this with our desk
Grade, origin and window if you have them. If what you are carrying does not fit the sheet above, describe it in your own words and a trader will take it from there.