MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Uruguay's 07/08 sheep farm exports 320 million USD

Uruguay's 2007/08 wool export increased 8.2% in value totaling 60 million kilos while sheep farming exports reached 320 million US dollars (up 8.4%). China remains as Uruguay's main wool client, according to a release from the Uruguayan Wool Secretariat, SUL.

In the same period, from August 31 2007 to September first 2008 lamb and mutton export increased 30.2% while live sheep shipments dropped 49%. Of the total 320 million US dollars exports, wool represented 76.2% equivalent to 243 million US dollars, up 8.2% over the previous period. Mutton and lamb export was equivalent to 63.8 million US dollars; sheep skins increased 24% to 3.1 million US dollars and live sheep dropped 49% to 9.2 million US dollars. The 60 million kilos wool clip is 7.4% less than the 2006/07 season, but 80% underwent some form of industrialized process and only 19% was shipped greasy. China was Uruguay's main client for wool taking 44% of exports, which represents a 10.6% increase over the same period a year ago. China was followed by Italy, Spain, Bulgaria, India and Germany. Regarding the current clip, an estimated 42 million kilos have been sheared according to SUL with total exports of the wool year that has just begun expected to reach 350 million US dollars. An estimated 60.000 jobs depend from the ovine breeding industry, from farm laborers to the textile industry. The industry's assets are estimated in 100 million US dollars, including the flock, land and industry hardware. At its best Uruguay's flock was above 26 million head but with falling wool prices and soaring demand for beef and lately for grains and oilseeds, less farm land is dedicated to sheep farming. SUL estimates the current flock in 9.7 million head, down from 10 million a year ago. In related news a delegation from Uruguay's Meat Board is currently in South Africa participating in the World Meat Congress 2008. Uruguay is scheduled to talk about its recent traceability experience and the black boxes system implanted in abattoirs which is an additional guarantee to keep track of the final beef cut from the moment cattle is shipped from the farm and through the industrial process.