Five leading Australian wool industry groups are jointly working to develop a mechanism that sets the industry up for success into the future. Australian Council of Wool Exporters and Processors (ACWEP), Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX), Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) and the National Council of Wool Selling Brokers of Australia (NCWSBA) have undertaken extensive discussions over the past 9 months to assess the ... Read More

Extreme rising in energy prices and a growing uncertainty in almost every industrial sector: many manufacturing textile companies face immense challenges these days. To compete in the market, they must increase the flexibility and efficiency of their production and minimize manufacturing costs by reducing the input of resources. Online quality control in textile production processes is suddenly more important than e... Read More

Mr Brendon van Rensburg, previously responsible for managing AWTA Ltd’s Western Australian operations has been appointed General Manager – Raw Wool, a position previously held for many years by Mr Ian Ashman.  Brendon will remain based at the Bibra Lake laboratory in Western Australia but will regularly spend time in Melbourne. With a very experienced and capable management team located in the Melbourne labora... Read More

Australian wool auctions this week resulted in price gains on all types and descriptions. Strong interest from most offshore interests for prompt and close shipment provided the initial drive for the market. The subsequent price rises saw those same buyers follow the prices upwards and gave auction buyers and exporters the necessary confidence to acquire further inventory. Funds permitting, this enabled most operato... Read More

The 18th sale of the 2022/23 wool selling season took place, with an offering of 13 786 bales, after a withdrawal of 2 632 bales before the sale. The majority of the offering consisted of long length, fine micron fleece wools, with 50,6% of the merino wools on offer being certified as sustainable. The ZAR traded weaker on the first day of the sale, but strengthened during trade on the second day, resulting in ... Read More

The Campaign for Wool’s Wool Weeks in the UK returned this year to promote the natural and sustainable benefits of the fibre to consumers, and like last year continued for all of October. The Campaign for Wool, initiated by the then HRH The Prince of Wales in 2010, continues to raise awareness amongst consumers about the unique, natural, renewable and biodegradable benefits offered by the fibre. HM King Charles I... Read More

The Global Fashion Group (GfG) will no longer operate in Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan as it disposes of its interests in these countries. Global Fashion Group has received EUR95m (US$100.7m) of proceeds (net of transaction costs) in addition to the cash held in the Lamoda business as at 30 September 2022. As a result, the group’s pro forma cash as at 30 September 2022, adjusted for the sale proceeds, was EUR550... Read More

China’s services activity in January expanded for the first time in five months as spending and travel got a boost from the lifting of stringent COVID-19 curbs, sending business confidence to near 12-year highs, a private sector survey showed. The Caixin/S&P Global services purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose to 52.9 in January from 48.0 in December, above the 50-point mark which indicates expansion in activity... Read More

Australian Wool Innovation’s marketing arm The Woolmark Company has partnered with French eco-native sports and lifestyle brand Circle Sportswear partners to unveil a pair of running shoes made with Australian merino wool. The shoes are also biodegradable and made from 100% recyclable materials. AWI Chief Executive Officer John Roberts says the innovative running shoe showcases the comfort, breathability and s... Read More

Jobs growth surged in the US in January, defying fears that the economy is heading for a downturn. Employers added 517,000 jobs last month, the Labor Department said. That was far more than expected, pushing the unemployment rate down to 3.4% – the lowest rate since 1969. Analysts are struggling to figure out what is happening in the world’s largest economy, which is being buffeted by a mix of higher borrowing... Read More

The monthly comparisons of Total Lots, Bales and Weight tested for January 2023 compared with the same period last season are: +21.8%, +24.2% and +23.8% respectively. The progressive comparison of Total Lots, Bales and Weight tested for July 2022 to January 2023 compared with the same period last season are: +2.0%, +2.6% and +2.7% respectively. AWTA Ltd has tested 187.5 mkg (million kilograms) this season comp... Read More

Two sites in Scotland have become the latest areas of the UK selected to host a freeport. Scottish ministers say the sites in Cromarty Firth and the Forth should become operational later this year. Eight freeports have been set up in England, with another planned in Wales. Freeports aim to create economic activity – like trade, investment and jobs – near shipping ports or airports. Teesside became the first... Read More