Wool prices this year are likely to be no different from the last two years. This does not bode well for farmers who have had to accept 5c/kg to 20c/kg for their wool clip since 2020. What’s more, shearing costs could rise.
Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Not really. There is a lot of wool available, despite the trade picking up before Christmas 2021.
Elsewhere, sales in the UK have been good, nothing is being sold in China, and trade in India is disastrous.
One farmer has two years’ worth of surplus wool, which there is no demand for. It’s also largely poor quality, which doesn’t help. Farmers are urged to look after the wool they have, planning shearing activities when the sheep are dry and storing the clean clips in an equally dry place. It’s worth the effort, in the long run, to get the best wool prices possible.
The price is not yet set for new season quality lowland wool, but old season wool is currently trading at 20c/kg. In addition, this is likely to be the price for higher quality wool.