A British Wool Marketing Board (BWMB) wool statistics factsheet for 2015 shows Australia continuing to dominate global production of clean raw wool. While its sheep sector is gradually changing to a focus on meat production, many parts of the sector are still focused on producing high-quality Merino wool. As detailed in the map, the country produced a staggering 273,878t of wool, despite having a sheep population of 73m sheep. China produced 176,198t of wool from a far higher sheep population of 158.5m.
A British Wool Marketing Board (BWMB) wool statistics factsheet for 2015 shows Australia continuing to dominate global production of clean raw wool.
While its sheep sector is gradually changing to a focus on meat production, many parts of the sector are still focused on producing high-quality Merino wool. As detailed in the map, the country produced a staggering 273,878t of wool, despite having a sheep population of 73m sheep. China produced 176,198t of wool from a far higher sheep population of 158.5m.
The UK is the only region in the EU to figure in the top wool producing areas of the world. Production of wool in Ireland is only a fraction of the 21,672t produced in the UK, with the ewe flocks ranging from about 2.46m ewes in Ireland to approximately 13m ewes in the UK. China continues to dominate global wool purchasing. Markets have performed relatively well in recent years although there was a dip in demand in recent months, which has sent some concerns through the sector. Some merchants are cautious as to how the market will perform at the start of the 2016/2017 season, which is not unusual in such circumstances.
Prices finished the season ranging from €1.30/kg to €1.40/kg, with merchants slow to quote for new-season wool with very little shearing completed.
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