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Drought puts the boot into fashion
23 Jun 2003
The drought has pushed wool prices to new highs - including for consumers who want to buy a pair of Ugg boots, facing increased prices due to a drought-induced shortage of sheepskins. Victoria's Emu Ridge, Australia's largest Ugg boot manufacturer, says the rising prices for buyers have not hurt sales, however.
Emu Ridge makes 700,000 pairs of sheepskin shoes a year, with increasing demand in both Australia and the US meaning the manufacturer is looking to expand production.
Jackson's Tannery, which processes sheepskins for footwear manufacturers, says the rise in prices of sheepskin footwear is good news for the bush. Farmers, encouraged by recent rains, are holding onto sheep and lambs rather than sending them to abattoirs.
Meanwhile, the drought has also pushed up the price of another consumer commodity: the egg. Increased production costs and a reduction in the number of hens will raise egg prices by between 5 and 15 per cent.
The Egg Industry Association says the drought has doubled the cost of chicken feed and driven many producers out of the market because of a lack of profits.
The Daily Telegraph, 23/6/03, page 7.
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