10/18/2026
๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ ๐ช๐ข๐ข๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฃ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐๐ก๐๐๐ก๐ โ ๐ช๐๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐๐ฆ ๐ง๐๐๐ง ๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ก ๐ช๐ข๐ข๐?
The recent 2026 Nanjing Wool Market Conference in China brought together wool growers, buyers, processors, and industry leaders to discuss the future of the global wool trade.
One message stood out: ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐น๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐น๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐น, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฏ๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐น๐ ๐๐ผ๐ปโ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐.
๐ Australian wool production is projected to be 69% below its 1992โ93 level.
๐ New Zealand wool production has fallen from 142 million kilograms in 2020โ21 to 113 million kilograms.
๐ South Africa reported a nearly 4% decline in wool production.
Meanwhile, China reported a 4.8% increase in raw wool import volume during the first seven months of 2026, with the average price paid increasing 41.9%.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐น ๐ด๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐?
At ๐ฅ๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ๐น๐น ๐ช๐ผ๐ผ๐น ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐, we believe the tightening global supply picture offers reason for cautious optimism. But limited supply alone does not guarantee stronger prices for every type of wool.
Buyers continue to value consistent quality, proper preparation, low contamination, reliable testing, and dependable supply.
There is also growing interest in traceability and responsibly produced wool, creating opportunities for American growers who can meet these requirements. ๐ฅ๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ๐น๐น ๐ช๐ผ๐ผ๐น ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ has Responsible Wool Standard (๐ฅ๐ช๐ฆ) options for wool growers.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐น ๐ฏ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐?
Processors face their own challenges. Higher raw wool prices, narrow processing margins, and uncertainty in consumer demand make purchasing decisions increasingly complex.
Maintaining reliable relationships between producers, brokers, and processors will be essential.
๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐ผ๐๐๐น๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ: We see opportunities for American wool in a tightening global market, particularly where quality, consistency, and verified sourcing meet customer needs. However, we expect price differences among wool types and periodic market volatility to continue.
The challenge for our industry isnโt simply achieving higher wool prices for one season. Itโs establishing sustainable returns that encourage producers to continue raising sheep, preparing quality wool, and investing in the future.
๐ ๐ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐น ๐๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐น๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐น ๐ด๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ.
๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐ป๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ต๐ผ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐น ๐ฐ๐น๐ถ๐ฝ๐.
๐๐ค๐จ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ค๐ค๐ก ๐ฝ๐ง๐ค๐ ๐๐ง๐จ โ ๐๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ช๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐๐ค๐ค๐ก ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐จ ๐๐ค๐ง๐ก๐-๐พ๐ก๐๐จ๐จ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฉ๐จ.
Sources: 2026 Nanjing Wool Market Conference reporting from WoolProducers Australia; Australian Wool Innovationโs The Yarn, Episode 290.
