By Staff Reporter
WINDHOEK
A number of Namibian karakul producers have left for Denmark on a historic tour to witness the Swakara karakul fur auction in Copenhagen next Monday, 16 April, 2007.
The producers’ visit coincides with the start of the centenary celebrations of the Namibian karakul industry. Karakul was first imported to the country in 1907, when a total of 12 karakul sheep arrived, forming the core of what was to become a thriving industry. According to the chairperson of the Karakul Board of Namibia, Kobus van Wyk, it is the first time that a number of producers have teamed up to witness the karakul fur auctions in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The Agra Pelt Centre, which serves as a collection and international marketing agency for Namibian karakul pelts, received an above average supply of karakul pelts this year.
The Karakul industry has been showing a remarkable improvement since 2002.
Swakara sold in excess of 120 000 karakul pelts by September 2006 in the last auction compared to only about 90 000 in the 1990s.
Swakara offered and sold 42 170 black and 2 372 white karakul pelts at the September auction in the Danish capital.
The white pelts had an average selling price of N$597.25, with the highest going for N$806.94, while the black pelts were sold at an average price of N$503.66 with the highest fetching N$771.53. Swakara sold over 52 000 pelts, including other colour varieties at about N$25.8 million.
Only black and white pelts would be on auction in Copenhagen, while brown and grey pelts will go on auction in September this year together with the black and white varieties.
The rise in the price of karakul pelts is mainly attributed to the increasing demand on the Asian, Russia and Chinese markets.
The producers that went to Copenhagen are Gabriel Biwa, Malcolm Campbell, Andre De Jager, Johan Grobbelaar, Tobie Le Roux, Truter Meyer, Christo Nell, Reinhold and Kirsten Schreiber, Henkie Steyn, Kobus and Ina Van Wyk, Retief and Rika Von Wielligh, Raimar and Heidi von Hase, Wessel and Marie Visser, Tienie van Staaden and Koos Kotze.
(Additional reporting by Nampa)