OCR Text |
Show WOOL SUPPLIES EXCEED DEMAND World wool production is still near the peak reached in 1928. Production in 1931 may not be much- below that of 1930. Prices will depend upon recovery from the business depression which has reduced consumption. World production (exclusive of Russia and China) in 1930 was about one per cent below the peak production of 3,232,000,000 pounds in 1928. The production of fine wools has increased proportionately proportion-ately more than that of medium and coarser wools. Decreases in total Wool production during the next few years will probably be mostly in fine wools. Production of shorn wool in the United States increased from 222,-000,000 222,-000,000 pounds in 1922, the low point of the last decade, to 328-000,000 328-000,000 pounds in 1930. Range conditions and the number of sheep on farms indicate no material ma-terial reduction in average fleece weights in 1931 or in the total clip. Stocks of combing and clothing cloth-ing wool are considerably greater than they were a year ago, both in the United States and in foreign countries. A large proportion of last year's clip of mohair is still on hand, largely in the hands of growers' agents; another large clip is in sight for 1931; and there is little evidence as yet of increased volume vol-ume of consumption in 1931. Demand De-mand has fallen off partly because be-cause the principal users of the finished product furniture and automobile manufacturers are not in the market for usual supplies. |