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27 April 2004
A positive trend evident in Australian wool receivals (into brokers' stores), auction offerings, and trade clearances over the six months to February 2004 is confirmed by the latest data on monthly wool exports. The year-on-year decline in the volume of wool exports from Australia has become less severe in the past few months.
2 April 2004
In the final sales prior to the Easter break the Australian wool market continued it's descent to end the week 1.7% down on average at sales in Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle.
23 April 2004
In the first sales after the Easter break the Australian wool market firmed to end the week 1.7% higher on average at sales in Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle.
30 April 2004
According to statistics from China Customs, the aggregate volume of China's chiefly wool apparel and textiles exports lifted only slightly in the January-February 2004 period but it rose 17% in US$ terms. This firming is due in part to some economic recovery in China's key export markets.
22 April 2004
Cotton prices were volatile within a relatively narrow band in March continuing the eratic fluctuations evident between October 2003 and February 2004. The beginning of April saw a downward trend with more recent global raw cotton prices remaining weak despite the growth in cotton imports into China.
8 April 2004
Highlights from the April edition of Monthly Market Briefing:
In India, apparel wool consumption at retail is failing to keep pace in an expanding domestic retail market. Wool fabric and apparel manufacturers are going through a difficult phase, with fashion trends cutting into demand and high wool prices eroding margins.
UK retail sales at textiles, clothing and footwear stores increased marginally in February and again in March in volume terms.
Korean consumers continue to be particularly price sensitive, although a gradual increase in consumer spending was evident for the fourth quarter 2003.
Italy's balance of all traded goods registered a significant drop in 2003, with a fall in both export and import values.
16 April 2004
During 2003, Japan reacted to the overproduction of men's suits during 2000 to 2002 and the resultant accumulation of stocks at retail with significant cuts to men's suit imports. As a result, the stock position throughout the pipeline reportedly declined and returned to more "normal" levels.
The luxury fashion sector recently began showing signs of a retail recovery after two very difficult years in 2002 and 2003. Unfortunately for leading European brands, this recovery seems centred on the US and Asia.
Buoyant house prices, low interest rates and an insatiable consumer interest in home fashion and décor is boosting spending on household goods and interior textiles in the UK. According to National Statistics, retail sales of household goods including interior textiles have outpaced the growth in clothing and footwear over the last five years by a considerable margin.
Figures from the US Department of Agriculture reveal the national sheep population fell 3% by the 31st December 2003, with shorn wool production down 8%. An all-time low is expected for the 2004 US wool clip, mainly due to the drought conditions in some growing areas like Texas and California.
The Australian wool market remained fairly steady to end the week 0.6% lower on average at sales in Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle.