World Wool Output
Lowest Since 1960s

LONDON —(AP)— World wool production this season will hit its lowest level since the 1960s, the International Wool Textile Organization predicted Monday.

The agency said that, in line with falls throughout this decade, global production in the 1998-99 (July-June) season would total an estimated 1.42 million metric tons clean basis, compared with 1.446 million tons estimated for 1997-98.

The Brussels-based body said the decline was due to poor demand and low prices, forcing producers to switch to more profitable products.

In 1989-90, wool output hit a record high of 2.01 million tons. Subsequent declines have been particularly marked in former Soviet Union countries and in Australia.

The breakdown of the IWTO's first 1998-99 global clip forecast — in thousands of metric tons clean basis, with 1997-98 comparisons in parentheses — included:

Australia 442 (452), New Zealand 186 (197), China 147 (145), former Soviet Union 94 (93), Uruguay 48 (55), U.K. 44 (44), Argentina 37 (37), Turkey 36 (36), South Africa 33 (34), India 28 (28), Pakistan 24 (23), Iran 23 (23), Irish Republic 17 (17), Spain 16 (16), Morocco 15 (15), U.S.A. 14 (15), Brazil 11 (11), Mongolia 11 (11), Romania 11 (11) and France 10 (10).