MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chinese corporation interested in wool clip from Magallanes

CTRC annually purchases 15 million kilos of wool

One of China's main textile trading companies recently visited Magallanes region in the extreme south of Chile with the purpose of acquiring a significant percentage of the region's total production.

China Textiles Resources Nanjing Corporation, CTRC, currently represents 30% of China's industrialized wool and one of the leading exporters of the industry in China with clients all over the world. Two company representatives Wang Sam and Jie Li arrived in late November and have since visited 20 farms in the continent and Chilean Tierra del Fuego, sponsored by Agroindustrial Patagonia Ltda, a Chilean company with close trade and financial links with China. Apparently CTRC is interested in all types of wool, fine and coarse, given its industrial organization and currently purchases bales from Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa, Uruguay and Europe since they are possibly China's main wool processor. According to Wang CTRC interest in the South of Chile dates backs five years and samples taken back to China have proven to be of good fleece although wool "from Australia and South Africa feels finer". CTRC annually purchases 15 million kilos of wool and is interested in expanding production for which they will need mores suppliers and therefore their interest in Magallanes Region which has an annual production of nine million kilos. However the Chinese delegation suggested that it's in the interest of farmers to have their wool certified, because that is apparently one of CTRC conditions plus the fact it means higher prices for farmers.