South African producers breathe a sigh of relief following China’s unbanning of wool imports

The South African wool industry and the government have welcomed the announcement by China to uplift the ban on SA wool products in the wake of the foot and mouth disease. 

Agriculture, land reform, and rural development minister Thoko Didiza accepted the development and issued a statement in responding the news. 

Media reports surfaced last month that China banned imports from the South African wool sector citing fears of the disease outbreak – the announcement was made in April. 

The decision posed a serious threat to the local industry as it produces more than 42 million kg of wool from 8,000 commercial sheep farmers.  

BusinessLIVE also reports that there are also 40, 000 communal smallholder farmers who contribute 14% of total wool exports. 

Based on the ban, the South Africa farmers would have suffered an irrecoverable loss of R730m if the restrictions continued. 

“We welcome the decision by the General Administration of Customs of China and the ministry of agriculture and rural affairs of China to lift the ban on wool and other cloven-hoofed animal skin  
products imported from SA as announced today [Tuesday],” Didiza said. 

Furthermore, BusinessTech Africa has gathered that the wool export industry is worth R1bn and the ban on wool products would have hurt the industry and affected millions of jobs. 

The effects would have been felt especially because the wool industry is in its harvesting year and it is in full swing. 

The daily publication posted that Trade, Industry, and Competition minister Ebrahim Patel said SA’s negotiations with Chinese authorities were conducted in a positive manner. 

Main Image: SA Wool Industry/News24