N.Z. Wool Exports Down By 10.8p.c.

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30741, 4 May 1965, Page 21

N.Z. Wool Exports Down By 10.8p.c.

Only Belgium of the major wool importer's has taken more wool from New Zealand in the nine months to the end of March, according to the New Zealand Wool Commission.

With three months of the year remaining, wool entered for export from New Zealand totals 1,032,161 bales, or 10.8 per cent less than the 1,176,347 bales sent in the same period last year. During March, shipments rose 127,469 bales against 175,976 bales for March of last year. Belgium has taken 89,418 ba1e5—19,746 bales more than last year. Britain, with 96,028 bales or 27 per cent less at 262,502 bales, leads the decline by other major importers. Australian Exports Total sales of Australian wool to all countries for the nine months to March were £281.1m, says a New Zealand Press Association report from Canberra. This is a fall of £44,879,000 on the previous corresponding period, according to the Acting Commonwealth Statistician (Mr J. P. O’Neill). Sales to Britain were down £10,620.000 (from £55,348,000 to £40,728,000). Japan, Australia’s biggest customer, also bought less, the drop being £11,090,000 on the previous figure of £102,198,000. As well as a drop in the price of wool, the number of actual bales sold was down—--175.105 fewer. The United States purchase was double the previous corresponding period and was worth £l6m.

Details of New Zealand wool entered for export in the nine months to March 31. with the percentage share of the total shipped to each of the main destinations are:—

Bales 000 1965 p.c. 1964 p.c. E.E.C. 382 37 36 U.K. . 263 25 30 U.S.A.. 181 IS 16 Japan Others ... 60 .. 146 6 14 6 12

others ... 146 14 12 Totals .. 1032 100 100