Wool News

William Lempriere putting the rumours to bed

Victor Chesky spoke with William Lempriere, Managing Director at Lempriere about the company and its latest acquisitions.   VC: There have been a number of rumours circulating the industry regarding Lempriere. Is there any truth to the rumours?   WL: We are well aware of these rumours and it is unfortunate that so many of our competitors have promoted a variety of misleading and incorrect rumours. Remarkably none of them have ever bothered to ask me whether or not they are true! The Lempriere Group remains a wholly family-owned enterprise.   It seems that the rumours ...Full Report »

China tackles corruption – not good news for some

Many business interest groups around the world have welcomed the stance taken by the new leadership in China to tackle bureaucracy, government excess and corruption. And within China itself, to the party faithful and those not benefiting from such excesses, it will be seen as a show of strength in party principles and a check on extravagance. But the consequences for such drastic cuts will be translated directly into job cuts, and the consequential flow-on effect will be far-reaching for the Chinese workforce. 'Take uniforms as an example', says Robert Wang ...Full Report »

New MD for Chargeurs talks about the Groups’ future direction

The name Chargeurs has been synonymous with wool and particularly wool top for as long as most can remember. It is hard to find anyone in today's wool industry that at one stage or another has not worked with or for Chargeurs. In the last couple of years Chargeurs has scaled down its interests in some countries. In a recent visit to Uruguay Victor Chesky caught-up with Mr. Federico Paullier, newly appointed Managing Director of Chargeurs Wool, and asked him where Chargeurs is heading........ 'In recent years we have been adjusting ...Full Report »

Patchy picture from China

Conflicting reports out of China make it very difficult to predict what will happen in wool and textile processing and manufacture in China this year. So says Robert Wang China Manager for Australian Wool Testing Authority. Mr Wang works closely with major wool mills in China. But most would agree that in general, top makers in China are finding it tough. However, Mr Wang notes, vertically integrated companies, from raw material to finished garment are doing better, moving finished products to Europe and the USA. He also observes that there is a ...Full Report »

South Africa – Wool Prices virtually unchanged

Port Elizabeth wool sale 24 April 2013: The wool market was characterised by another lacklustre performance amid a very small offering and the Cape Wools Merino indicator closed down a marginal 0,4% at R102,84/kg (clean).   In Australia, prices were also down. According to reports the domestic market in China remains subdued with the new government and consumers remaining cautious to spend money.   The rand hadn’t changed much compared with last week. It was trading at an average rate of R9,17 against the US dollar compared with R9,11 at last week’s sale, down ...Full Report »

New Zealand Wool Market Report (18th April 2013)

The 15,000 bales of South Island wool on offer this week saw a 82 percent clearance and a generally dearer market overall, fully recovering from the previous weeks’ North Island softer sale on 18th April. Bales on offer 14,979, bales sold 12,097.   The currency factor had practically no influence this week with the weighted indicator firming only 0.11 percent.   Most pressure came on the Chinese types with Fine Crossbred Fleece firming 1 percent and the Shears lifting between 3 and 7 percent.   Average style Coarse Fleece were 3 to 5 percent stronger with ...Full Report »

UK Wool Market Report Sales (24 April 2013)

The twentieth British Wool Sale of the 2012/13 Season was held by the British Wool Marketing Board at Wool House and offered 2,082,076 kilos. Following strong gains in the previous the sale saw the demand level maintained but with most prices easing back. The clearance was 99%. Compared to the last time sold: Pick and Supers Firm Halfbreds 2 - 7% cheaper Crosses 5 - 8% cheaper Cheviot Wethers 5% dearer, Hogs Buyers Favour Radnors 5% cheaper Welsh Firm White Swaledale Fully Firm, Light Grey 10% cheaper Blackface Sellers Favour. ...Full Report »

Length Testing of Scoured Wool – NZWTA

Length is one of the most critical quality parameter in wool processing, however traditional estimates of staple length are difficult to assess once the wool has been washed and the staples become entangled and less clearly defined. Consequently the Length after Carding (LAC) test was developed to provide a standardised measure of the fibre length of scoured crossbred wool after semi-worsted processing.   Approximately 80% of all exported wool from New Zealand is in scoured form (about 80 million kilograms). The test procedure has been developed into a New Zealand Standard (NZS ...Full Report »

Introducing the Wool ComfortMeter and Wool HandleMeter

AWTA Product Testing is offering a new wool fabric-testing technology in the forms of the Wool ComfortMeter and Wool HandleMeter. These highly capable instruments were developed by the Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation (Sheep CRC) in conjunction with the CSIRO, Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), AWTA, Deakin University, and the Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA). The Wool ComfortMeter and Wool HandleMeter technologies are now available for use by all wool processors, knitwear manufacturers and retailers in a collaborative project between AWTA’s Product Testing Division and the Sheep Cooperative ...Full Report »

Fed says US economy improved in recent months

The US central bank has slightly upgraded its view of the US economy, saying it expanded at a "moderate pace" in recent months. The view comes in the Federal Reserve's latest Beige Book report, which covers the period from late February to early April. The Fed highlighted growth in the manufacturing and construction sectors. In its previous beige book report in January, the Fed said growth was only "modest to moderate". In its latest report, the Fed also said that carmakers were performing strongly. Yet it cautioned that consumer spending was only ...Full Report »

Ultra-fine bale from Canterbury NZ breaks world record

NZ Canterbury merino farmer Anna Emmerson has won the Loro Piana Challenge Cup in Hong Kong with a world record bale of the finest merino wool. The Mid-Canterbury farmer from Lindis Ridges near Mayfield is among a select few Kiwis to break the Australian domination of the competition. She broke her own record of 10.9 microns set in 2010 with an ultra-fine bale in the competition held in Paris. In the past, winning bales have made around $200,000, paid by the family owned clothing and fabric maker Loro Piana, led by Italian ...Full Report »

Zegna’s 50th edition Wool Awards celebrated in superfine style

To honour the 50th Anniversary of the Ermenegildo Zegna Wool Awards, Ermenegildo Zegna in partnership with The Woolmark Company, hosted a two-day celebration with guided visits to some of the top Australian superfine properties and culminating in a gala, multi-sensorial event held at the historic Royal Hall of Industries in Sydney’s Moore Park. Journalists and media representatives from 31 countries travelled to Australia to gain an understanding and appreciation for fine Australian Merino wool. The farm tour was a day trip for 120 media to the New England district where seven ...Full Report »

Merino wool “wetsuit poncho” from Rip Curl and The Woolmark Company

Rip Curl has partnered with The Woolmark Company to produce a selection of Woolmark-certified Mick Fanning Merino wool garments which debuted at the Rip Curl Pro ASP World Championship Tour at Australia’s iconic Bells Beach at the Easter Weekend. The development follows on from the successful launch of the MF1 boardshort and came on the eve of a global release of the high-class “Mick Fanning by Rip Curl” clothing range. Headlining the collection is a Woolmark-certified Merino wool “wetsuit poncho” which was supplied to all ASP world tour competitors. The poncho has ...Full Report »

Textile Products – AFIP establishes new criteria for imports

Buenos Aires. The Argentine tax bureau AFIP established a new value criteria to help protect the domestic industry from foreign imports of woven and synthetic textile fabrics as well as bed and mattress products. General Resolution 3458, published (this month) in the Official Gazette set import prices for the following products by the kilo: woven fabric at USD3.44, synthetic fabrics at USD3.10 and different prices for bedding products: USD4.44 for feather pillows, and all other products USD3.35. The new regulations will mainly affect Asian producers. Source: BA Herald   Full Report »

Key Test Data Summary from AWTA ( March 2013)

The monthly comparisons of Total Lots, Bales and Weight for March 2013 compared with the same period last season are: -8.9%, -6.3% and -5.9% respectively. The progressive comparisons of Total Lots, Bales and Weight for July 2012 – March 2013 compared with the same period last season are: -0.8%, +3.1% and +3.2% respectively. Please note that there were two less business days during March 2013 in comparison with the same period last year. Progressively AWTA Ltd has tested 289.2 mkg (million kilograms) this season compared with 280.2 mkg for the equivalent period last season.   Source: AWTA   Full Report »

China manufacturing activity growth slows in April

Growth in China's manufacturing sector slowed in April, a survey by HSBC has indicated, adding to concerns about the country's economic recovery. The preliminary reading of HSBC's Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) fell to 50.5, from 51.6 in March. A reading above 50 indicates expansion. A drop in new export orders was blamed for the decline, a sign of weak global demand. Last year, China's economy grew at its slowest pace in 13 years. "New export orders contracted after a temporary rebound in March, suggesting external demand for China's exporters remains weak," said ...Full Report »

SDL ATLAS PNUBURST has been approved by Marks & Spencer

The SDL Atlas PnuBurst, Pneumatic Bursting Strength Tester, has been approved by the Marks & Spencer for use in M&S P27 method tests in globally accredited laboratories. Marks & Spencer, recently made the announcement after extensive testing at the Underwriters Laboratory’s independent facility in Nottingham in the United Kingdom. The SDL Atlas PnuBurst determines the bursting strength and distension at burst of woven, knitted and non-woven fabrics, paper and paperboard. With a wide range of test clamp sizes and pressures up to 1500Kpa/200 psi, the PnuBurst is the most versatile pneumatic ...Full Report »

Eurozone output still falling, PMI survey indicates

Activity in the eurozone's services and manufacturing sectors continued to fall in April, a survey has indicated, with even German output declining. Markit's composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the eurozone remained at 46.5 in April, unchanged from the month before. The survey suggested that German private sector output fell for the first time since November last year. Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, said: "Previously, we've seen Germany expand while other countries have contracted - notably Spain, Italy and France. "Now it seems those contractions are being accompanied by a downturn in the ...Full Report »