Mohair exports go JIT

THE FLOW of mohair
exports from Port Elizabeth
harbour has smoothed
from large one-off orders
to smaller shipments
throughout the year. Many
buyers in countries like
Italy, China, France and the
UK have moved to a more
precisely calculated, just-intime
basis; they are ordering
smaller quantities more
frequently, to be delivered
within six weeks.
The mohair trade is
estimated to bring South
Africa some R500million a
year. The production figure
for last year was three
million kg produced by
approximately
925 000 goats, says Mohair
SA general manager Deon
Saayman.
While shearing seasons
remain the same, market
dynamics have changed
from the days when a
manufacturing company
placed a huge order and used
up the quantities over a year.
The quietest time for local
exporters is June-August –
the European holiday period
- but mohair exports are
generally brisk throughout
the year, including our
Christmas holidays when
exporters are under pressure
to meet Chinese orders
before the Asian New Year
close-down early in the new
year.
“Although health
certificates are still required
for many mohair export
orders from South Africa,
some countries require a
health certificate certifying
there is no danger of
diseases like foot and mouth,
if the order is for animal hair
that has not been washed
and combed,” explained
Saayman. “Processed mohair,
packed in high-density bales
and then containerised, is not
a problem.”