Oh, yes. That affects quality too. Brazil is credited with exporting the best quality cowhides that are tanned using Chromium. Brazilian hides are suppler than the ones that are exported from other countries like Argentina and Mexico. And they last much longer too.
A lot of the cowhide that is used in furniture in the United States comes from Mexico. If you are unsure about the origin of the hide, speak to the manufacturer. They’d be more than happy to provide you with the information.