The Farmers Mart Jun/Jul 2015 - Issue 40 | Page 36

Sheep

Update from the British
Wool Marketing Board
»»The 2015 wool season
will see overall payments to
producers at similar levels to
the 2014 season, with slight
increases within specific types
and breeds.
The BWMB’s competitive
auction system is a tried and
tested method for delivering
the best possible wool returns
for producers and once
again proved itself in 2014,
a period of very challenging
market conditions with the
ever-changing currency
fluctuations, coupled with the
much reported slowdown
in economic activity in our
major export market, China,
which accounts for around 35
percent of the British Wool
clip. This is a positive outcome
and is the result of the Board’s

proactive selling policy,
ensuring the best possible
prices are achieved.
The average 2014 clip value
will be £1.05/kg, up on last
year’s figures and in line with
the return of over £1/kg kg
achieved in four of the last five
years. We have to remember
that the £1.05/kg is only an
average - of greater interest
are the Breed prices with 2015
guide wool clip values being
Cheviot £1.35/kg, Texel £1.22/
kg, Mule £1.16/kg, Suffolk £1.13/
kg and Swaledale £0.62/kg.
British Wool is sold in the
global market – its major
markets being China, Europe,
USA, Japan etc and it is
competing against other major
wool producing countries,
particularly New Zealand, which

British Wool Marketing Board

Maximise
The Value
Of Your Wool
2015 Guide
Wool Clip Values*

has similar types of wool, but
with a clip nearly five times the
size of the UK clip.
Prospects for the 2015
selling season are encouraging.
With the relatively firm market
throughout the 2014 season we
would confidently expect this
trend to continue into the new
season. With no anticipated
change in global supply of
wool, and demand conditions
improving in our major markets,
we expect the new season
auction price to be slightly
higher than last year.
The natural sustainable,
natural message is core,
focusing on the consumers’
growing awareness of
environmental issues and
reflecting changes in consumer
markets – the growing

Cheviot

interest of the affluent, ageing
consumer and expanding
global markets.
This increased demand
points to a bright future for
wool producers, with returns
now more than three times the
level they were just seven years
ago.

Mule

£1.35 / kg

£1.16 / kg

Blackface
£0.90 / kg

Suffolk
£1.13 / kg

Texel
£1.22 / kg

Swaledale
£0.62 / kg

*Net value after all operating costs have been deducted
and excluding VAT. Based on last year’s selling season.

You can find out more about British wool and
the work of the British Wool Marketing Board at:
Web: britishwool.org.uk Telephone: [phone]

36 Jun/Jul 2015 www.farmers-mart.co.uk