Is wool textile in Australia underdeveloped?

Australia is rich in natural resources and is an important producer and exporter of mineral resources in the world. Its industries are mainly mining, manufacturing and construction. High-tech industries have developed rapidly in recent years, and their competitiveness in the international market has improved. The proportion of service industry in GDP has gradually increased, and now it has reached about 70%.

Australia is a mature market economy country, which relies heavily on international trade. In fiscal year 2002, Australia's total foreign trade was A $240.393 billion, accounting for 34.5% of GDP, and its trade surplus was A $65.438+49.5 billion, accounting for 654.38+0.2% of the total import value. In fiscal year 2002, Australia's total exports reached 1226. 1 1 100 million Australian dollars, down 2.55% from the previous year. The total import value was1177.82 million Australian dollars, an increase of 8.37% over the previous year. Australia has trade relations with more than 30 countries and regions in the world. The main trading partners are Japan, the United States, Chinese mainland, South Korea, Britain, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan Province Province of China, Germany and Malaysia.

Australia formally joined the World Trade Organization on 1 99565438+1October1

I. Textile production and investment management institutions

The Australian Productivity Commission is the government department that manages the industrial production and trade in Australia, including the production and trade management, policy formulation and industry coordination of the textile and garment industry.

The Australian Wool Bureau, the Australian Textile Fiber Processing Enterprises Association and the Australian Wool Mark Company are responsible for the management, guidance and various consulting services on the production and sales of raw materials containing wool, the brand and technology promotion of products.

Australian Agricultural Economic Resources Department and Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) are responsible for the management, pricing policy formulation and statistics of Australian transactions and auctions.

Australian Wool Innovation Organization (AWI) assists the industry to carry out research, development and promotion projects. WoolMark is a wool promotion organization headquartered in Melbourne, which is the market mechanism management and coordination organization of Australian wool.

In addition, there are some non-governmental organizations in Australia, such as the Australian Textile Enterprise Association and the Carpet Association, which are engaged in the production, technology research and development and information consultation of textiles and garments.

The Australian International Chamber of Commerce (AITA) is an international organization that provides policy, legal, financial and market guidance and services to Australian SMEs in the fields of international business, industry and foreign trade.

The Australian Investment Authority is the national investment institution of the Australian government, which is mainly committed to promoting the investment environment in Australia, actively promoting large-scale investment projects, and providing a wide range of special investment services for companies interested in investing and doing business in Australia.

The Australian Trade Commission is the official trade and investment promotion agency of the Australian government, which helps Australian exporters to promote their products and services to foreign markets and promote two-way investment. Its offices in various parts of China can provide strategic direction suggestions for China commercial organizations, help analyze investment opportunities and projects, and promote investment activities.

Second, the textile production and consumption market overview

Australia is a world-famous country suitable for raising sheep and producing high-quality merino wool. The annual output of wool is about 600,000 tons, making it the largest wool producer and exporter in the world. According to the statistics of the Australian Ministry of Agriculture, Resources and Economy, the number of Australian sheep is 1.0 1 100 million. It is estimated that in 2003/2004, the average wool price in Australia may decrease by 13%, and the wool export will decrease by 13.2%, which is about $3.2 billion.

From 1990, the number of workers engaged in direct manufacturing in Australian textile and garment industry dropped from 9 1000 to about 60,000 in 2002, and now the number of employees in this industry accounts for 6.4% of the manufacturing industry and 0.8% of the total employment in the country.

80% of the annual output value and added value of the national textile industry in Australia come from Victoria and New South Wales. The annual per capita output value of textile industry is $65,438 +03 10000, accounting for 39% of Australian manufacturing industry.

The chemical fiber industry is the largest sector in the Australian textile industry, with an annual output value of about 650 million to 700 million Australian dollars. At present, there are about 70 enterprises engaged in the production of chemical fiber and related textiles.

Australia's textile and clothing products include textile fabrics, clothing, leather, shoes and socks. At present, there are more than 4,000 textile manufacturers with an annual output value of about 630-650 million Australian dollars. It mainly processes special clothes with high added value, high technology content, adaptability to special climate and high safety, especially surfing clothes, swimwear, beach clothes, mountaineering clothes, waterproof coats and sun protection clothes. Textile machinery manufacturing industry is underdeveloped, and its textile machinery and accessories are largely dependent on imports. The main sources of supply are German, Japanese and China Taiwan Province Province.

The total annual consumption of textiles in Australia exceeds $4.5 billion. Consumer goods are mainly concentrated in special textiles and clothing with high added value and high technology content. Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Perth, Brisbane and other big cities are the main centers of the Australian textile and clothing market.

Three. Present situation of textile import and export trade

At present, Australia's textile exports have reached 29% of the industry's output value, and it imports about 2.6 billion Australian dollars of textiles and clothing every year. In 2000, textile exports reached nearly A $3 billion. In recent years, Australia has produced low value-added products overseas, assembled semi-finished products at home to form high value-added products, and then labeled them with Australian trademarks and sold them to domestic and foreign markets.

Australia's wool exports occupy an important position. In 20001/2002, Australia's wool output was 550,000 tons, and the eastern Australian wool market provided about 3 million bales, with a turnover rate of 87.38% and an average annual comprehensive index of 988.38 Australian dollars/kg.

As the cotton planting area in Australia decreased by 5% in 2003, it is estimated that the cotton output will be reduced to 592,000 tons in 2002/2003, and the cotton export will be A $65,438+500 million. It is estimated that in 2003/2004, the foreign exchange earned by Australian cotton export was relatively small, reaching A $654.38+03 billion, and will be restored to A $654.38+05 billion in 2006/2007.

About 50% of the clothing in the Australian market depends on imports, and the proportion of imports is gradually increasing. In 20001year, Australia imported clothing10.62 billion US dollars, and in 2002, it imported clothing10.83 billion US dollars.

In 2000, about 60% of Australian chemical fiber products, 58% of Australian cotton products and 30% of Australian wool products need to be imported from Chinese mainland, South Korea and Taiwan Province Province of China. Most cotton fabrics and blended cotton fabrics are imported from India, Pakistan and other countries. High-grade fibers, especially wool fabrics, are imported from Europe, mainly Italy, while decorative textiles are mostly from Eastern Europe.

Fourth, the development policy of textile industry.

In order to promote the development of textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) industry, the Australian government issued a strategic investment plan, and decided to allocate 750 million Australian dollars to this industry from 200/kloc-0 to 2005, so as to encourage enterprises to update their equipment, set up new factories and intensify research and development. According to TCF strategic investment plan, enterprises can apply for government funding according to their investment proportion.

At the beginning of May 2003, the Australian Productivity Commission published a report, which made a comprehensive analysis of the textile, clothing and footwear industries in Australia. The report suggests that by 20 10, the import tariff on textiles, clothing and footwear products will remain at 5%. According to Australia's current plan, by 2005, the import tariff on clothing will be reduced from the current 25% to 17.5%, footwear and carpets will be reduced from 15% to 10%, and home textile products such as tablecloths will be reduced from 10% to 5%.

At the beginning of 2003, the Australian Productivity Commission submitted a report to the government, pointing out that in the next decade, the Australian textile industry will not be able to face strong competition from Asian countries such as China, and it is inevitable that some textile enterprises will be forced to switch production and develop overseas. Therefore, before the textile tariff was greatly reduced, the Australian government's annual financial subsidy to textile enterprises reached 65.438+0.4 billion Australian dollars, and the average subsidy per worker reached 654.38+0.3000 Australian dollars. Australian enterprises hope that this subsidy will last until 2009, and then gradually decrease within four years.

Verb (abbreviation of verb) textile foreign trade policy and investment environment

On July 1 day, 2000, Australia reduced the average tariff on textiles by about 5%, except for raw materials such as clothing, towels, bedding, fabrics and accessories, most other textiles were below 5%. The Australian government also plans to reduce textile import tariffs again after 2005. On July 1 2003, the Australian Department of Trade announced that it would formally provide duty-free and quota-free special market access to 49 least developed countries and East Timor. By 2005, the tariff on imported clothing in Australia will be reduced from 25% to 17.5%, on imported shoes and carpets from 15% to 10%, and on sleeping bags and linen tablecloths from 10% to 5%.

The government is usually cautious about foreign investment in the wool industry. The government can encourage all projects involving textile and garment finishing, but the standards for the production environment and environmental protection measures of enterprises, especially wastewater treatment, are higher.

Australia has established free trade zones in Northern Territory and South Australia, and the relevant policies of the trade zones are also applicable to overseas investors. The federal government hopes that overseas investors will participate in the development and construction of remote areas and promote local economic development.

The advantages of Australia's business environment are mainly manifested in the skilled and multicultural workforce. Of every 65,438+0,000 workers in Australia, 64 are engaged in R&D, which is lower than that of the United States and Japan and higher than that of Germany. The computer penetration rate is 492 per thousand people, ranking sixth in the world. The telephone penetration rate is 6 10 per thousand people, ranking first in Asia. In terms of commercial infrastructure construction, Australia has gradually liberalized banking, telecommunications, aviation, transportation and hydropower operations, introduced competition mechanisms, and reduced commercial costs.

The average weekly salary of full-time adults in Australia is 867.6 Australian dollars (about 1350 US dollars), with an annual growth rate of 5.2%. Water, electricity and transportation costs are also quite competitive in the Asia-Pacific region. Compared with most neighboring developing countries, Australia has high labor costs and high labor wages.

Present situation of bilateral trade and investment between China and Australia

The economic and trade cooperation between Australia and China is based on the complementarity of the two economies and their equal status in the Asia-Pacific region. In recent years, the Australian economy has become increasingly diversified, which makes its high-tech manufactured products and high-quality services have great market potential in China. China is the fourth largest importer of Australian goods.

In 2002, Australia became China's ninth largest trading partner. According to the statistics of China Customs, the total bilateral trade between China and Australia in 2002 was US$ 654.38+0.0436 billion, up 654.38+06% year-on-year. Among them, China exported US$ 4.586 billion to Australia, a year-on-year increase of 28.5%; Imports from Australia reached US$ 5.85 billion, a year-on-year increase of 7.8%. China's deficit is $6,543.8+$26.4 million. From June 5 to August 2003, bilateral trade between China and Australia increased by 28% compared with the same period in 2002.

China is Australia's largest textile importer. Australia has no quantitative or non-quantitative restrictions on the import of textiles and clothing from China, but China implements a quota management system for the import of Australian wool. China is currently the largest buyer of Australian wool. In 2002, the total import quota of wool in China was 365,438+100000 tons, accounting for 62% of the annual output of Australian wool of 500,000 tons. The actual import from Australia was133,800 tons, down 24.7% year-on-year.

At present, China's textile exports to Australia are mainly low-grade clothing and finished shoes and socks, of which clothing and finished products account for 85%, and textiles only account for 15%. In 2002, Australia imported 2.329 billion Australian dollars of clothing from China, and China clothing accounted for 70% of the Australian clothing import market. In 2002, China imported 632 million Australian dollars of yarn and cloth, accounting for 23% of the total value of Australian yarn and cloth imports.

In recent years, mutual investment between China and Australia has also developed rapidly. According to the statistics of the former Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of China, by the end of 2002, there were 5,288 direct investment projects by Australian businessmen in China, with a contract value of 8.078 billion US dollars and actual investment exceeding 2.829 billion US dollars. Australia is one of the main sources of foreign investment in China. By the end of 2002, there were 2 15 non-financial investment projects in China approved or filed by the former Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, with an agreed investment of US$ 654.38+57.5 billion and a total investment of US$ 436.543+0 billion from the Chinese side.

Seven. Analysis and suggestions on trade and investment

At present, China exports very few textiles and clothing to Australia. In Australia, high-end brand clothing is mainly made of European products. It is suggested that China enterprises should promote some domestic excellent branded garments to Australia, or act as agents for some world-famous brands in the Australian market, and promote them in various ways in combination with our own brands and branded products.

To develop textile and clothing trade with Australian businessmen, China enterprises should be competitive in price; Product quality should be stable; The delivery time should be reasonable; All goods themselves are required to be labeled with identification labels, which indicate the price. Before entering the Australian market, we should be prepared to place a small order.

With the progress of science and technology, advanced scientific and technological means such as electronic data exchange and network technology are widely used between large Australian retail enterprises and major suppliers, and the procurement cost is greatly reduced. China enterprises must adapt to the requirements of modern science and technology, gradually popularize network information technology, use e-commerce platform to enter Australia's global procurement system, establish stable export channels, and continuously expand China's textile exports to Australia.

China enterprises that invest and set up factories in Australia can keep close contact with local retailers, which is conducive to their integration into Australia's main sales channels. Many products in Australia can only be produced locally and are not allowed to be imported from abroad, such as uniforms. This market is actually quite big. At present, some foreign factories have moved to Australia to produce uniforms. Australian textile enterprises are mainly engaged in the production of high-tech textiles. If they can invest and set up factories in Australia, they can also learn advanced garment production technology and technology.