The Jiangsu city of Zhangjiagang imported 2,441.6 tons of wool in the first six months of 2009, up nearly 15 per cent year-on-year and worth a total of US$14.9m, according to the local inspection and quarantine bureau. The statistics confirm that the world wool processing industry is moving to China.

A number of wool trading companies inside Zhangjiagang bonded zone have been importing aggressively, taking advantage of the current low prices in the world market. Some major processing companies such as Zhangjiagang Tianyu and Zhong Ao have also been reported to be importing modern technology and equipment and increasing their capacity.

The inspection and quarantine bureau is promoting a new inspection regime that it says will reduce the inspection time by 15 days and save businesses Rmb1.5m-2m.