Chinese wool imports expected to fall in H2

04 Nov '09

2 min read

According to Customs statistics, in September 2009, China's wool imports registered 20,500 tons, down 5.11 percent from the same period of 2008. From January to September 2009, China's total imports reached about 241,400 tons, up 3.95 percent year on year.

In the first nine months of 2009, imports of raw wool totaled to 191,500 tons, up 9.24 percent year on year, imports of clean wool were 29,800 thousand tons, down 12.87 percent year on year; imports of wool top were 14,000 tons, a reduction of 4.76 percent year on year and imports of carbonized wool recorded 4,226 tons, an increase of 6.69 percent.

The majority of China's wool imports are still from Australia. From January to September, China's imports of Australian Wool were 133,500 tons, an increase of 3.89 percent over the previous year and wool imports from New Zealand were 35,800 tons, an increase of 9.48 percent.

Wool imports from Uruguay were 19,800 tons, increase of 8.79 percent year on year; wool imports from South Africa were 10,900 tons, an increase of 50.29 percent year on year. Imports in the first quarter stood at 69,900 tons, imports in the second quarter were 96,500 and in the third quarter it was 75,000 tons.

Wool prices increased fast in the second half and domestic producers have had to absorb the higher costs of the raw material. There has been no significant increase in exports, due to which China's wool imports are expected to be lower, in the second half when compared with the first half.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India