Wool imports decline by 4 per cent

Despite intense cold weather this winter, the country's wool imports are estimated to decline 4 per cent on large scale diversion of domestically made coarse grade wool from carpet weaving to warm clothes manufacturing.

Total imports of apparel grade wool are estimated at 95.70 million kg this year as against 99.62 million kg last year.

An industry expert said that India-made coarse wool was suitable for extra cold climate. Therefore, in normal cold weather, Indian woolen apparel makers import fine grade wool from Australia, New Zealand, China, West Asia and other countries.

But this year, largely because of the global climate change, most of the northern part of the country witnessed severe cold with temperature in New Delhi dipping to '0' degree.

In Mumbai, the temperature dropped to 8 degree centigrade, lowest in over 40 years. This led to a large chunk of coarse wool, meant for carpet weaving, being used for apparel manufacturing.

Of the total imported wool, around 60 per cent is apparel grade (16-20 mircons) and the rest is carpet grade wool (30-35 microns). According to data compiled by the Commissioner of Textiles, 80 per cent of the country's raw wool production is carpet grade wool.

About 80 per cent of good quality Indian wool goes into the manufacture of carpets. Of the remaining,15 per cent is very coarse, 5 per cent is apparel grade but of shorter average fibre length. Rajasthan (44 per cent), J&K (13 per cent,), Karnataka (12 per cent) along with Gujarat, UP, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana are the major wool producing states in the country.