Aust, wool sales sliding

Press, 16 July 1983, Page 24

Aust, wool sales sliding

NZPA Sydney The Australian Wool Corporation says promotion overseas is vital to counter a sliding trend in traditional markets and to develop the buying potential of Third World countries.

The chairman of the A.W.C., Mr David Asimus, told the annual conference of the Livestock and Grain Producers’ Association of New South Wales that there had been a noticeable de-

crease m the imports of Australian wool by Japan in the last few years. “Until recently, Australian wool represented 75 per cent of the Japanese imports worldwide. Now it is only 60 per cent and receding," he said. “The Japanese are using less wool in their garments. We are trying to make sure that wool will be significantly present in their clothing in the future.

Mr Asimus said the recession in the developed countries had been reflected in sales overseas.

“Since Easter the market has been in a very difficult position, compounded by competition from New Zealand and South America,” he told the L.G.P.A.

“However, there have been definite signs of economic recovery in the United

States which will spread io other economies." He said the A.W.C. had io study the buying potential of countries such as China and India.

The meeting carried unanimously a motion that the association ask the Federal Government to reaffirm its election promise of ?Aust2B million ($NZ37.24), for wool promotion.