Tanned or crust hides and skins; bovine or equine, without hair on, in the dry state (crust), (other than full grains, unsplit; grain splits)

HS code 410449 covers tanned or crust hides and skins of bovine or equine animals, without hair on, in the dry state (crust). This industry plays a crucial role in the global leather supply chain, providing essential raw materials for the production of a wide range of leather goods, from footwear and apparel to upholstery and accessories. The demand for these products is driven by the growing consumer appetite for leather-based products, as well as the increasing use of leather in various industrial applications.

The production of tanned or crust hides and skins involves a multi-step process. After the animals are slaughtered, the hides or skins are first subjected to a series of pre-tanning treatments, such as soaking, liming, and dehairing, to remove any remaining hair, flesh, and other impurities. The hides or skins are then tanned, typically using vegetable tanning agents or chromium salts, to stabilize the collagen fibers and impart the desired properties, such as softness, strength, and durability. Finally, the tanned hides or skins are dried and processed into the desired crust form, ready for further downstream processing or use.

The main inputs required for the production of tanned or crust hides and skins include raw hides or skins from bovine or equine animals, tanning agents (such as vegetable tannins or chromium salts), water, and various chemicals and auxiliaries used in the pre-tanning and tanning processes. Additionally, specialized machinery and equipment, such as drums, mills, and drying facilities, are essential for the efficient and consistent production of these materials.

The primary output of HS code 410449 is tanned or crust hides and skins, which are then used as inputs for the production of a wide range of leather products. These outputs may be consumed by industries covered under other HS codes, such as 4104 Leather of bovine or equine animals, without hair on, other than leather of heading 4108 or 4109, 4107 Leather of other animals, without hair on, other than leather of heading 4108 or 4109, and 4202 Trunks, suitcases, vanity cases, executive-cases, briefcases, school satchels, spectacle cases, binocular cases, camera cases, musical instrument cases, gun cases, holsters and similar containers; travelling-bags, insulated food or beverages bags, toilet bags, rucksacks, handbags, shopping-bags, wallets, purses, map-cases, cigarette-cases, tobacco-pouches, tool bags, sports bags, bottle-cases, jewelry boxes, powder-boxes, cutlery cases and similar containers, of leather or of composition leather, of sheeting of plastics, of textile materials, of vulcanized fiber or of paperboard, or wholly or mainly covered with such materials or with paper.