The latest data on China’s trade in wool and wool products from the China Wool Textile Association shows that imports of raw and semi-processed wool by China increased sharply in March after declining in February. While imports from all sources increased by 39% in March compared with March 2017, the most significant increases were seen for imports from New Zealand (+88%), Uruguay (+86%) and ‘other’ countries (+80%). Imports from Australia lifted by 16%. For the 2017/18 season to March, China’s imports were 28% higher than for the same period in 2016/17. Imports from Uruguay were 96% higher, while import from ‘other’ countries were up by 67% and imports from New Zealand were up by 26%. All of these countries had seen hefty falls in 2016/17, so a recovery was due. China’s imports from Australia and South Africa were up more modestly, by 9% and 14% respectively. China’s imports from Australia and South Africa increased in 2016/17, so the rise this season is built upon the higher imports to start with.

Further details including a chart showing the trends in China’s exports of wool products are provided in the full version of the NCWSBA Weekly Newsletter, available to NCWSBA members.