U.S. WOOL IMPORTS DECLINE

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27500, 6 November 1954, Page 10

U.S. WOOL IMPORTS DECLINE

N.Z. AND AUSTRALIA AFFECTED

Raw wool imports into the United States during 1953, at 294,300,0001 b, were some 70,000,0001 b. or 20 per cent., less than those in the previous year and were the second smallest since the war, says Dalgety’s annual wool review for Australia and New Zealand. The United States’ smallest post-war imports were 273,000.000 lb in the recession year of 1949. There was a marked change in the pattern of supplies, says Dalgety’s review. The proportion provided by the Commonwealth fell from just under two-thirds in 1952 to just over one-third in 1953, the actual supplies declining from 230,000,000 lb to 110,000,0001 b. } In contrast, Argentina, which had been the , to ird largest supplier after Australia and New Zealand in 1952, expanded its shipments and rose to first place. It sent 109,000,0001 b in 1953, or nearly 50,000,0001 b more than a year earlier. Iraq, Persia and Syria accounted for larger quantities, but Uruguay, on the other hand, suffered a reduction for the third successive year. Shipments by New Zealand at 34,170,000 lb were less than half those of a year earlier, but were slightly above those made in 1951. Imports from the major producing countries by the United States in the last three calendar years compare as follows:

Totals .. 361,216 367,068 294,262 The United States’ imports of apparei wool from New Zealand during 1953 were only 20,500,0001 b, compared with 40,800,600 lb m the previous year. They represented only 13.8 per cent, of the total of such imports, against 21.5 'per cent, in 1952. Apparel wool imports from Australia slumped from 79,100,0001 b, or 41.6 per cent of the total, to 48,400,0001 b, or 32.7 per cent.

LONDON WOOL FUTURES

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, Novembc r 4. The wool futures market closed on a steady note. Quotations are:—

BRADFORD TOPS QUOTATIONS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, NoV. 4. Bradford top* quotations are as follows: Merino: 70’s, 131 d per lb; 64’s, 122 d; 60’3, 118 d. Crossbred: 56’s, 96d; 50's, 80d; 46’s. 77d. WNING SNOWY RIVER DREDGE (From Our Own Reporter) GREYMOUTH, November 5. Snowy River Gold Dredging Company. Ltd., return for the fortnight ended yesterday was 670 z of gold from 39,000 yards of material excavated in 224 hours.

1951 1952 1953 (0001b) (0001b) (OOOib) Australia .. 121,318 93,592 46,204 New Zealand .. 31,336 72,331 34,170 South Africa .. 24.008 24,791 11,213 Argentina .. 50,442 62,073 109,466 Uruguay .. 57,977 32,179 28,363 Other countries 76,135 82,102 64,546

Buyer Seller December d. per lb. .. .. 123 124 January .. .. 122 1221 Maron ... .. 120J 120g July >4 «. 121 1211 September .. 120J 121 October .. 121 1211 December .. .. 118 1211 January .. 118J 1194 March .. 118 120 May .. 117 118