Smaller cities 'new source' of growth in fur sales

The fur trade has slowed over the past year in China, but rising demand from northern parts of the country and smaller cities has been a strong factor in global sales growth and prices this year, according to industry participants.

Mark Oaten, chief executive officer of the London-based International Fur Trade Federation, said apart from the warm winter, a slowing economy and a soft luxury market combined to make last year a hard one for the fur business in China.

However, he said, things had improved in recent months as market demand shifted from the top cities such as Shanghai and Beijing to smaller ones and even rural areas.