NWGA
The National Wool Growers Association says it is extremely concerned about the unjustifiable ban on wool exports to China due to recent Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreaks in parts of the country.
General manager, Leon de Beer says the first wool auction for the 2022/23 season kicked off in Gqeberha on Wednesday and, with 70-80% of the South African clip traditionally destined for China, the ban will have a devastating effect on the local wool industry.
He says since the ban was announced in April this year, the South African wool industry has thus far lost an estimated R734 million in wool exports to China.
De Beer says they hope that the countrywide ban on the movement of cattle announced by the Minister of Agriculture this week, will stop the spread of the disease soon.
"We sincerely hope that the ban will create an environment where the spread of the disease is stopped and restricted because, in the longer run, it has benefits for both the red meat and wool industries. We need to stop the spread of FMD so that the Chinese authorities can see that the spread of the disease is under control", he said.
