Reverse trade missions generate $3.8 million in U.S. wool sales - Trade Notes - Brief Article

AgExporter, Feb, 2003

The American Sheep Industry Association is using FMD (Foreign Market Development) Program and MAP (Market Access Program) funds to develop a new sales base for U.S. wool overseas. The association's strategy is finding buyers whose needs match U.S. wool production levels and types. Tactics include targeting markets to inform buyers of U.S.

wool's availability and quality improvements, coupled with product sampling and processing trials to demonstrate U.S. wool's attributes. This strategy has been highly successful, with the most recent round of reverse trade missions bringing outstanding results. During the May-June 2002 wool season, the association undertook trade missions that brought 18 international buyers to the United States and yielded purchases of 2.9 million pounds of greasy and scoured wool, valued at about $2.6 million. In the following three months, the same participants bought an additional 1.3 million pounds, valued at $1.15 million. In total, the trade missions resulted in direct sales of about 4.2 million pounds, valued at nearly $3.8 million. Almost all product went to new buyers, a significant expansion of the international sales base.