Spanish sheep farmers welcome resumption of wool exports to China

西班牙牧羊业者欢迎对华羊毛出口贸易重启

MADRID, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Sheep farmers in Spain have welcomed China's decision to resume imports of Spanish wool, expressing hope that the move will help revive the struggling sector and boost rural development.

新华社马德里10月10日电，西班牙牧羊业者对中国恢复进口西班牙羊毛的决定表示欢迎，期待此举能有助于重振当地陷入困境的行业，促进农村发展。

"It's good news because the wool industry in Spain has been in a very bad situation. Sheep farmers haven't been able to make a profit from their wool, so the fact that a window has opened to export to China is great news," said Pablo Rincon, secretary general of Asaja, the agricultural association of young farmers, in an interview with Xinhua on Friday.

“这是个好消息，因为西班牙的羊毛业一直处于非常艰难的境地。牧羊人原本无法从羊毛中获利，如今重新打开对华出口窗口无疑是重大利好，”西班牙青年农民农业协会秘书长巴勃罗·林孔周五在接受新华社记者采访时表示。

Exports of Spanish wool were suspended three years ago following an outbreak of sheeppox in the country.

三年前因该国爆发羊痘疫情，西班牙羊毛对华出口贸易被曾一度中断。

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Spain's wool exports dropped from 18,126 tonnes in 2021 to 15,927 tonnes in 2024, while total national wool production also declined from 23,168 tonnes to 20,670 tonnes over the same period.

根据西班牙农业、渔业和食品部的数据，该国羊毛出口量从2021年的18,126吨下降到2024年的15,927吨，而同期全国羊毛总产量也从23,168吨下降到20,670吨。