Swakara-shipment on its way to Copenhagen
Published: 01 Mar 2018

This morning (Thursday 1 March) a consignment of 41 500 swakara pelts were sent from Windhoek to the Copenhagen Fur Auction House.

The pelts, which will go on auction on 18 March, is expected to arrive in Denmark by Monday, 5 March.

Mr. Jaco van Zyl, the Swakara Pelt Center's manager, said in total 43 500 pelts were submitted by swakara producers. All pelts handed in at the various Agra branches, are sent to the pelt centre in Windhoek, where it is sorted and packed.

"After the rejects as well as the grey and brown pelts were withdrawn, we were able to send about 41 500 pelts to Copenhagen.

"The number of white and spotted pelts are about 6% more, compared to April 2017's offer," he said.

Van Zyl says that the exchange rate is currently not very favourable for sales after the South African Rand recently strengthened against the US Dollar.

"Currently, we are 6% worse off in Namibian Dollar compared to the September 2017 auction.

"Nonetheless, with our smaller offer we should not struggle to sell our pelts. But if our offer shrinks even further, important buyers will be losing interest because they cannot fulfil their orders. "

Van Zyl said during February's mink and chinchilla auction in Copenhagen, 99% of all pelts were sold - with a small increase that was noticed in prices.

"Especially the chinchilla - which is, like swakara, a small offer - was sold at good prices. Winters in America, Europe and Russia were cold, which is generally good for fur sales, " Van Zyl said.

The Swakara Council’s chairperson, Julene Meyer, travelled to China by the end of 2017 and returned with positive feedback from prospective Chinese buyers.

Swakara is a relatively well-known fur in China and is increasingly gaining ground in the Chinese fashion-scene.