Wool Consumption

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 26, 1 February 1937, Page 5

Wool Consumption

FINDING NEW MARKETS POSSIBILITY OF CHINA Although New Zealand’s sheep population has not yet been restored to tho record level of 30,840,000 head in 1929, there are a million more sheep this year than last. With pasture improvement being undertaken in the good rainfall areas of Australia it is probable‘that in years to come the clip will reach 4,000,000 bales annually. With tliii steady increase in flocks new avenues of consumption are necessary if prices are to be maintained on a satisfactory basis for growers. The opinion that the greatest field for increased consumption lies iu the East, and particularly China, is expressed iu a report f romWiucliconibe, Carson, Ltd., woolbrokers, Sydney. At present demand is fully adequate for the quantity of wool produced. But the population of the older wool-using countries is not generally growing. In some quarters its probable decrease in the years ahead is giving concern. That aspect adds to the necessity of finding new markets. Tho purchasing power of the great bulk of the Chinese people to-day is small, but in time it will expand, states the report. In the early part of this century the Japanese were more or less similarly situated, but their use of wool in 30 years has risen from an average of about 7000 bales annually to the present total of 700,000 bales to 800,000 bales a year.

This season considerably increased purchases of wool have been made for China. That is partly duo to the cstaolishmcnt of a mill in China by Fa tons and Baldwins, a most important firm ot Yorkshire spinners. Six modem mills are now operating in the country, two being English owned, one Japanese, and three Chinese.

Similar changes are showing mi tho character of Chinese ’inpor\.s as those noticeable with Japan in tho ear.y days of her industry. In the first ten months of 1936 she imported 7,795,0001 b of tops from Great Britain, whereas foui years ago her imports of those goods were negligible. Simultaneously she has decreased her importation of yarns as she is now able to do her own spinning. As time goes on she will probably reduce her purchases of tops and reach the stage of handling almost tho whole of her own requirements from the raw material to the manufactured fabric.