According to the latest data available from the major exporting countries, raw wool exports have increased by 8% in the 2017/18 season to May. This increase been led by a 19% increase in exports from New Zealand and a 22% increase in exports from Uruguay. Both countries this is a rebound from the sharp decline in the 2016/17 season, although exports have still not returned to the levels seen in 2015/16. There was also an increase in exports from Australia (up 5%) and a 2% increase in exports from Argentina. Exports from South Africa were 1% higher. This lift in demand from all of the major wool producing and exporting countries is due to a broad-based improvement in demand for raw wool from many of the major wool processing countries. While imports by China have lifted by 11%, there has also been a significant improvement in exports by the Czech Republic (up 11%), other European countries such as United Kingdom and Bulgaria, as well as ‘other’ countries which includes Egypt and Malaysia. After lagging for the first 6-8 months, India’s raw wool demand and imports have lifted sharply in recent months. As a result, for the eleven months to May, India imports were 2% higher than for the same period in 2016/17.

Further details including charts showing the aggregate level of exports of raw wool from the major wool producing countries and aggregate imports by the major wool processing countries are given in the NCWSBA Weekly Newsletter for the week ending 27th July 2018, available to NCWSBA members.