There has been an 11% increase in exports by the five major wool producing and exporting countries for the 2017/18 season to April. New Zealand and Uruguay have seen a very strong increase in exports this season after the dismal declines in 2016/17. Exports from Australia have increased more modestly, exports from Argentina are on par with 2016/17 levels (but have increased strongly in the past few months) why exports from South Africa are down a little. This increase in exports from the five major exporting countries is due to increased demand from a number of major wool processing countries. China, the largest processor, has lifted its demand for raw wool by 10% so far in 2017/18 and this has been a major, but not the only, driver. Imports by the Czech Republic and Italy are also higher, up by 3% and 2% respectively. Imports by other countries in Europe (mainly the UK) are up by 10%, while imports by ‘other’ countries have also lifted. While India’s purchases are on par with 2016/17, it has been increasing its buying steadily in recent months.

Further details including charts showing the trends in exports from the five major producing and exporting countries and the increase in purchases by the major processing countries are provided in the NCWSBA’s Weekly Newsletter, available to NCWSBA members.