The Global Fur Industry： Trends,Globalization and Specialization

The fur industry and the entire fur cluster are in many ways an interesting and instructive example from which many lessons can be learned. Up to now, the international fur industry has not been thoroughly described or analyzed. A major reason is the rather limited availability of national and international statistics about the fur sector. This article analyzes the production and international trade in fur based on information from official statistics, trade associations, companies, scientific papers and reports, interviews with experts, etc.. Markets and market conditions play a very important role with regards to the fur sector, and the price of fur is volatile in the short and long run. A new world trade pattern and international specialization have emerged in recent years. The comparative advantages of the fur sector change along the fur value chain, while China＇s position on the global fur market has changed significantly.