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Cablegate: Textiles and Apparel Sector New Zealand: Updated

Published: Fri 29 Sep 2006 05:05 AM
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHWL #0767 2720509
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 290509Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
TO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 0076
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3326
UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000767
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EB/TPP/ABT THOMAS LERSTEN
COMMERCE/ITA/OTEXA MARIA D'ANDRREA
STATE PASS TO USTR ABIOLA HEYLIGER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTEX ECON ETRD
SUBJECT: TEXTILES AND APPAREL SECTOR NEW ZEALAND: UPDATED
STATISTICS AND PROJECTION OF COMPETITIVENESS
REF: SECSTATE 138090
1. New Zealand (NZ) is recognized as a global leader in the
production of sheep wool. With the exception of wool, this
country's textile requirements are dominated by imports. New
Zealand sheep wool is the variety that is used mainly in
interior textiles such as carpets, upholstery, furnishings,
beddings and rugs. It is also used for hand-knitting yarn and
in knitwear and blankets. The industry has estimated that 34%
of new Zealand wool is used in machine-made carpets, 12% in
hand-knotted and hand-tufted carpets, 44% in apparel and 10%
in other uses, primarily upholstery and bedding.
2. The United States ranks as New Zealand's sixth most
significant apparel import source. China is the leading
source of apparel imports. Chinese apparel imports represent
approx 75% of the import market. After China, Australia is
New Zealand's next most significant import source. In
response to reftel, Statistics New Zealand reports for 2005
the following:
- The value of total industrial production is approx.
45,720,848,000 USD.
- The value of total textile/apparel production is approx.
1,628,696,000 USD
- Textiles/Apparel comprise 1% of all NZ exports and 3.4% of
all NZ imports.
- The value of textile and apparel imports to NZ in 2005 is
858,710,000 USD of which
Chinese textile/apparel imports equal approx. 522,230,000
USD
U.S. textile/apparel imports equal approx. 25,233,000 USD
- The value of NZ textile/apparel exports to the U.S. is
approx. 38,551,000 USD
- Of a total employed workforce of 2, 033, 800 in 2005,
292,700 were employed in the manufacturing sector of the
economy.
Note: Statistics New Zealand will be publishing more updated
tables in a month and Post will update figures if required.
End note.
Keegan
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