China Concerned About Australia's Wool Quality

January 19, 2007 - Dismayed at problems with wool lots purchased at auction, notably contamination by dark and medullated fibers, many Chinese processors are said to be "very interested" in buying supplies directly from growers or groups that can "guarantee the quality of the deliveries." The warning is given by the Chinese Wool Textile Association's raw-wool committee in a blistering condemnation of alleged Australian shortcoming.

China is the biggest consumer by far, currently accounting for 62 percent of Australian wool exports. The committee says that Chinese investigation of alternative purchasing schemes will be stepped up this year.

Mao Jianxin, the committee's secretary-general, has told the Australian trade, "We need wool meeting our specifications, free from contamination, prepared to the correct standard and fit for its intended use."

The processors say contamination is causing them serious financial losses, often to the point that entire batches are rejected by clients.

The raw-wool committee also accuses the Australian trade of: poor clip preparation; bales contaminated with items such as clothing and dead chickens; exporters refusing to accept responsibility for problems; a confusing array of industry organizations; and inadequate communications between Australian and Chinese processors.

Australian wool-industry delegates will meet with processors in China next week to address these concerns about wool exports.
Reprinted in part from The Wool Record Weekly

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