Zara and Benetton purchase wool from Kazakhstan

Italy buys virgin wool from Kazakhstan to produce brand-name clothes, Tengrinews reports citing KazAgro, Kazakhstan's national arm for development of the country's agricultural industry. KazAgroProduct company, the national company's subsidiary, has made a long-term cooperation agreement with Italian Vicotex Srl to supply wool tops. "Leading European companies like Benetton, Zara, GruppoMarzotto, H&M, FratelliPiacenza S.P.A., Lanerossi, Marchi e fildi Spa will be using the Kazakhstan-made wool tops to make their clothes," the message says. "Kazakhstan has already started to export processed wool to Italy. The first 18 tons of wool tops (a fine-wool-based semifinished product) out of the total 72 tons have been shipped to the Apennine Peninsula from Zhambyl Oblast," the Kazakhstan company reported. Shipment of the remaining 54 tons will be effected in the nearest time. And then the company plans toconclude more contracts for at least 140 tons of wool tops and maybe even supply 500 tons of wool during the year. The agreement between the Kazakh and Italian companies on 72 tons of tops is worth $598 thousand. Kazakhstan launched the production of wool tops - a natural product made of sheep wool - in Zhambyl Oblast in southern Kazakhstan in 2012. It is a joint project of KazAgroProduct and Taraz Wool Mill. The factory uses equipment it purchased from Europe thanks a financial support of another subsidiary of KazAgro - Agricultural Credit Corporation.