From Berry to Turkey – some of these alpacas could soon be headed overseas as part a multimillion-dollar export deal.
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Under the deal, which is worth more than $10 million, a large number of live Australian alpacas will be exported to Turkey for genetics.
Australian alpaca fleece could also be sent to Turkey for scouring and processing into textiles. At present, the fleece is sent to mills in New Zealand for scouring before it can be made into yarns and garments.
The large-scale trade project between the Australian Alpaca Association (AAA) and MUSIAD Sydney, a Turkish business organisation, was revealed as NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley visited a southern Illawarra alpaca farm on Sunday.
Mr Foley got up close to some of the animals at the Millpaca alpaca stud farm, just outside Berry, as he talked up the project.
“Here we are announcing a $10 million export deal for the NSW agriculture industry, at a really difficult time for our farmers; a time of drought,” he said, standing among some of the farm’s 500 genetic animals.
“We have here a new export market for our high-value alpaca industry.”
Millpaca produces about 10 tonnes of fleece each year.
Its owner, and AAA president, Ian Frith said the export deal was “a great opportunity” for producers.
“For all alpaca breeders, now matter how small or how big, it’s another opportunity, another door that’s opened,” Mr Frith told the Mercury.
“We’ve got doors opened with our Asian neighbours, but this is exciting because I know how good Turkey are. We’ve had a wonderful relationship and it just gives us another door of exports for Australian primary producers.
“We’ll have live animals going over to produce fleece … and also the fleece that’s going across will be made into yarn and most probably come back here as clothing.”
Mr Frith said the AAA had been working with the Turkish for the past five years and the live animal exports would help their country, which is the fourth biggest textile manufacturer in the world, boost its breeding herds.
MUSIAD president Hasan Gencturk said Australian alpaca farmers would be able to explore different markets outside our country and put more value-added products into countries close to Turkey.
Mr Gencturk said having the fleeces scoured and processed into textiles in New Zealand was “costly”.
Andrew Pearson
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
