Two years later, the fur industry is still suffering.

The price of fur has dropped by 30% to 40% this year, and many farmers have changed jobs.

With the coming of winter, the weather is getting colder and colder, and many citizens begin to choose warm clothing. On November 8, the reporter visited and found that as a leader in warm clothing, the price of fur has dropped sharply. At the same time, the prices of fox and mink fur for fur production have also fallen to a low point, and farmers are operating at a loss. Large farms store furs and wait for high prices, while some free-range farmers have dropped out of the industry. A number of industry insiders said that the fur industry is depressed, mainly affected by the market environment, breeding scale and other factors.

There are few customers at a discount on furs in the store.

Every winter, some citizens buy fur to keep out the cold. However, many people find that the price of fur this year is much lower than in previous years, and some stores have even begun to offer discounts.

On the morning of November 8, the reporter came to Wanjin Leather City near the intersection of healthy West Street and Aiguo Road in Weicheng District. The reporter found that some stores have put new furs made of fox and mink in a prominent position. The prices of all kinds of furs range from a few hundred yuan to several thousand yuan, and high-end products range from more than 10,000 yuan.

"the price of fur this year is much lower than that of last year, the price of the new model is not high, and the price of the old model is even lower." Mr. Wang, the owner of furs, said the fox furs sold in his store cost about 2000 yuan each, while the same product sold for 3000 yuan last year. "the price of fox skins is relatively low this year, which leads to a big drop in the price of furs."

During the interview, the reporter found that although many stores put out furs, few customers came to buy furs. "every morning, I open the door early, but few consumers come to visit, and some people come in for a stroll and leave." Shop owner Ms. Liu told reporters that fur sales were small last year, and from the current situation, it is expected that the fur business will be more difficult to do this winter.

Subsequently, the reporter came to the clothing area of Weifang Department Store near Shengli West Street in Weicheng District. Several stores have put out furs and sold them at special prices, with prices ranging from a few hundred yuan to several thousand yuan. In a fur store, the reporter picked up a piece of fur and asked the price. "this is a piece of mink fur. The price now is 8200 yuan, which is more than 2500 yuan cheaper than last year." A salesman said that although the price of fur is much lower than last year, not many people buy it. "compared with last year, the price of fur has generally decreased by 30% to 40% this year."

The price of fox skin from farmers fell to a low point, barely preserving capital.

On the same day, the reporter came to Qufan Village, Jiudi Street, Hanting District, and many villagers raised foxes in their homes. When it comes to the price of fox skins this year, farmers are not happy all the time. "it's good to raise foxes without losing money this year."

At the home of farmer Ma Sufen, she is busy feeding her fox. "according to the current market, the price of a fox skin is between 200 yuan and 400 yuan, which simply cannot be compared with that of previous years." Ma Sufen told reporters.

After 15 years of fox breeding, Ma Sufen has witnessed price changes in the fox market. When she raised foxes in the first year, the purchase price for each fox skin was about 200 yuan, and then it rose to 500 to 600 yuan. In 2012, it rose to more than 800 yuan. In 2013, the purchase price for each fox skin not only exceeded 1,000 yuan, but also once reached 1500 yuan. Many farmers make money as a result. But the good times did not last long, the price of fox skin began to decline in 2014, and has been falling to the current price.

Foxes mainly eat chicken liver, duck racks, chicken heads, etc., while adding certain grains and feed. Fortunately, the price of these feeds is lower this year, reducing the cost. " Ma Sufen said that according to this year's market, if a fox skin sells for 400 yuan, it can barely break even, and if it is less than 400 yuan, it will lose money.

A piece of mink costs only 100 yuan, hoarding goods for a high price

Compared with the fox, the mink has the same fate, and its value has dropped sharply. Especially this year, the price of a mink skin is just over 100 yuan, and farmers have said that mink farming is losing money, so many people hoard the mink skin produced.

At noon on the same day, the reporter came to Dong Village in the northwest of Junbukou Comprehensive Project area in Weicheng District. Li Hongqi, the person in charge of Hongqi Mink breeding Professional Cooperative, was looking at more than 9000 minks in his shed.

Li Hongqi has been raising minks for 30 years and has experienced five ups and downs in mink prices. He told reporters that mink was sold for 500 or 600 yuan at its best, and even in the first half of 2013, mink could be sold for 400 yuan. But the price of mink has fallen since August 2013. At this time last year, the price of male mink was about 150 yuan and that of female mink was about 110 yuan. The price is even lower this year, with a male mink selling for 120 yuan and a female mink for only 80 yuan.

Li Hongqi said that although feed costs have dropped a lot this year, mink farming is still not profitable. The feed cost of a male mink is about 130 yuan, and that of a female mink is about 80 yuan, which does not include labor costs, utilities and other costs.

The reporter saw that there is a small room next to the mink shed, which is the cold storage where Li Hongqi stores mink. "at the current price, there must be a loss on the sale of mink." Li Hongqi's son, Li Rongming, says his family has stored more than 5000 pieces of mink and will sell them when the price is high.

Unable to support it, many bulk farmers have quit one after another

In the cooperative, Li Hongqi can be regarded as a big farmer with rich farming experience and can hold on when mink enters a low price. And those small-scale farmers and free-range farmers are somewhat unbearable, have withdrawn from the mink farming industry.

Li Hongqi told reporters that at most, more than 150 farmers joined their cooperatives, covering five counties and districts in our city. However, starting from the second half of 2013, some free-range farmers could not stand the lower prices and began to withdraw from the mink farming industry. "at present, there are still more than 80 farmers remaining in the cooperative." Li Hongqi said helplessly.

Wang Mingzong began to breed minks in the economic development zone in 2011, when mink skin was relatively expensive and profitable. But by the first half of this year, he could no longer support the costs of raising minks. In desperation, he had to temporarily stop raising minks and do something else. "although some other small farmers are still raising minks, they are basically working hard." Wang Mingzong said.

Analyze a small cycle of three years

As for the current fur prices of foxes, minks and other animals, Li Hongqi said that a large part of our city's fur is exported to Russia, while the current Russian economic downturn and the devaluation of the rouble have affected the fur market to a certain extent. On the other hand, a few years ago, the fur prices of foxes, minks and other animals were on the rise, which made many farmers make a lot of money, resulting in an increase in the breeding volume of foxes and minks and an expansion of the scale of breeding, resulting in an adequate supply of furs and a decline in prices.

Ma Zefang, chief expert on the technological system of the fur animal industry in Shandong Province, said that since the second half of 2013, the price of raw materials in the four major international fur auction houses has dropped by nearly 50%, which has put great pressure on the breeding, processing and retail links of China's fur industry. Mink farmers in Shandong and even across the country have been affected by this, and the market has fallen again and again.

"Fur prices have been low for more than two years, and the scale of breeding such as foxes and minks needs to be further reduced in order to return to previous prices and farmers' profits." Ma Zefang told reporters that the fur industry has a small cycle of three years and a large cycle of five years. After the scale of breeding has shrunk, the price will naturally rise slowly.

"for mink farming, farmers should adhere to scientific breeding, select excellent varieties, and adopt scientific methods, so that the fur of mink is short, the skin rate is high, and it is not easy to lose hair, and fast-growing mink should be put an end to." Ma Zefang said that many domestically produced furs, because the varieties are not good enough, are exported abroad, but they do not sell at a good price. Therefore, farmers should actively improve the breed of mink and improve the quality of fur.