Customs statistics showed that China imported about 83,400 tons of wool in the first quarter of this year, down 6.07 percent from the same period of 2010.
By various varieties of wool, China imported about 68,700 tons of raw wool, down 2.54 percent year on year; 11,700 tons of washed wool, a fall of 14.14 percent, 2,175 tons of wool tops, down 46.15 percent and 743 tons of combed wool, up 34.17 percent.
Australia was still the largest supplier and China imported about 50,000 tons of Australian wool in the first quarter, up 13.87 percent year on year, of which 49,800 tons were raw wool, an increase of 16.22 percent year on year.
China imported about 10,700 tons of New Zealand wool in the first quarter, down 12.65 percent year on year. Among them, 6962 tons were raw wool, down 7.31 percent year on year; scoured wool was 3,759 tons, a fall of 19.15 percent.
In addition, China imported 5,735 tons of Uruguayan wool, down 23.11 percent, 1,521 tons of Argentine wool, a plunge of 55.71 percent and 449 tons of South African wool, also down 92.8 percent year on year.