Australian Wool Innovation Limited reported that Woolmark survey has revealed further strengthening in South Korean manufacturing activity.
This began in Q1 and has continued throughout 2005 on the back of improved sentiment at retail. Orders throughout the pipeline remain robust and capacity utilisation high, although this is mainly attributed to consolidation and downsizing of the domestic industry.
Despite better fabric ordering, profit margins have not improved since both imported textile and apparel is presenting strong competition.
Raw wool imports in the January-September 2005 period were slightly higher than in January-September 2004.
Since the closure of much of South Korea's early stage processing, raw wool imports consist mainly of Australian carbonised wool imported either directly from Australia or from Taiwan and China.
Australian Wool Innovation Limited (AWI) is a research and development organization which works with woolgrowers, researchers, processors and manufacturers.