WSI launch scoured wool brand in China

Wool Services International (WSI) today launched the first New Zealand brand of scoured wool in China.

All of WSI's scoured wool marketed to China will be covered by the Purelana brand.

WSI managing director Michael Dwyer said China took 65 per cent of Australia's wool clip, but only 19 per cent of New Zealand's.

With the shift of manufacturers from Western Europe to China in search of lower labour inputs, this was set to increase for both countries, but particularly for New Zealand."

"We have carefully studied our customers' buying patterns, and will offer a range of wool types specifically to meet the industrial demands of, for example, tufted carpets or axminster carpets," Mr Dwyer said.

Purelana wool will be produced at scours that are majority-owned by WSI at Kaputone north of Christchurch and Whakatu in Hawkes Bay.

- NZPA