China is reluctant to increase the import quota of wool and wool tops since 2006 even after it became the world's largest wool processor and consumer in recent years. The country relies on imports for more than 75% of its wool supply for domestic textile companies.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has taken the decision to keep next year's import quota of wool and wool tops unchanged from 2014. It will allow a maximum of 287,000 tons of wool to be imported in 2015.

Meanwhile, the import quota for wool tops is set at 80,000 tons, according to a statement by the ministry on its website.

Applicants must be businesses that actually import wool or wool tops with import quota licenses in 2014 without any regulation violations from the previous year.

According to the ministry, newly operational companies or newly built companies with a processing capacity above 5,000 tons can also apply for the import quota.

The commerce ministry and its authorized departments will allocate the quota on a "first come, first serve" basis until the quota is filled.