During the first five months of 2005 China imported significantly more raw and semi-processed wool compared with the same period a year earlier.
This brought imports to the highest level for the five month period since the all-time peak in 2000.
By country of origin, imports from Australia and Uruguay recorded positive year-on-year gains, while imports from New Zealand dropped for the period.
The decline in volumes from New Zealand reflects a swing towards imports from other smaller source countries.
For instance imports from Mongolia and "other" smaller source countries lifting strongly year-on-year, albeit from a very small base.
In addition to the rise in wool imported by China, there has also been a significant change in the type of wool imported during the January to May period.
While greasy wool has always been the most dominant category, its market share lifted sharply over the past eight years.
He share taken by imports of semi-processed wool has fallen, with the share taken by wool top imports dropping the most.
This strong lift in the volume share of greasy wool over the last few years highlights the re-location of global combing capacities into China and China 's increased preference for processing greasy wool itself.
-Ltd..jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Thermore (Far East) Ltd.")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TSllC Ltd)")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF)")
