Wool has always been a volatile market, but the speed and scale of price swings have changed. Instant news, global demand shifts, fashion cycles, exchange rates, shipping disruptions, geopolitics and climate shocks now collide faster – and with greater impact, than most growers have experienced before. That raises a simple but important question: should price risk still be taken entirely at the farm gate, or can ... Read More

A new paper published by the Bremen Cotton Exchange raises significant questions about how the textile industry measures and communicates fibre sustainability — and who is accountable. Authored by analyst Veronica Bates Kassatly and statistician Terry Townsend, Fiber Traceability — A Vehicle to Ensure Sustainability or Injustice? points out that polyester accounts for almost 60% of global fibre production. Yet no... Read More

This week saw the Australian wool market record successive days of strong gains, with the EMI finishing 54 cents higher at 1,934 ac/kg and the WMI closing 39 cents firmer at 2,125 ac/kg. This places the EMI at its highest level since 9th May 2019. Strength was also reflected in USD-denominated returns, with the EMI rising 49 US cents to 1,385 USc/kg. Year-on-year, the EMI is now sitting 730 cents or 60.6% higher ... Read More

US Market Share Shift: Driven by US reciprocal tariffs, China dropped to third place (behind Vietnam and Bangladesh) in apparel exports to the United States. China’s apparel exports to the US plummeted by over 57%, dropping the country to third place (valued at US$1.17 billion in early 2026), sitting behind both Vietnam and Bangladesh. Rising Production Costs: Textile hubs in regions like Zhejiang are under press... Read More

A new investment by a long-established Japanese processor of Australian Merino wool, the Nikke Group, is reinforcing a clear shift in the global wool pipeline—towards tighter supply chains, stronger traceability and greater control from fibre to finished product.  During a recent Australian visit, Nikke CEO Mr Yutaka Nagaoka positioned the company’s plan to build Japan’s first new domestic top-making facility in ... Read More

Land use is a fundamental environmental factor for agricultural products, including natural fibres. For wool, land is the basis of production and a resource that must be actively managed. This makes land use more than simply an input to be counted. The way land use is measured in models like the EU Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) will influence policy, product comparisons, and consumer information down ... Read More

In the first quarter of 2026, China’s apparel industry actively addressed challenges, including weak international market demand and disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Supported by positive factors such as the steady recovery of the domestic economy and the effective implementation of policies to expand domestic demand, the industry’s overall economic performance remained broadly stable.... Read More

Dyeing and finishing technologies, one of the most critical and value-added areas of the textile sector, have gained strong growth momentum on a global scale. Technologies that are pioneers of this transformation focused on sustainability, quality and efficiency will meet with sector professionals at the ITM 2026 International Textile Machinery Exhibition. Dyeing and Finishing Hall (11–12) will host the latest techn... Read More

Savio Macchine Tessili will participate in ITM Istanbul 2026 in a corporate booth of Vandewiele Group, showcasing a selection of its most advanced winding and spinning solutions designed to support textile mills in achieving higher efficiency, flexibility and yarn quality. The company will bring to the show three flagship solutions: Proxima Smartconer®, Lybra Smartspinner® and the Phoenix Assembly Winder... Read More

Australian wool has long been valued for warmth, comfort and resilience. What’s changing now is where that wool is appearing – not just in base-layers or knitwear, but increasingly in the outermost layer, where performance expectations are highest and competition from synthetics has been fiercest. That shift is being shaped through The Wool Lab, Woolmark’s global trend, material and innovation forecas... Read More

Merino wool proves its place in elite performance sport. Australian Merino wool is entering a new phase of demand growth in China — not as a lifestyle fibre, but as a trusted material in elite performance sport. China’s leading domestic sportswear groups are increasingly adopting Merino wool in categories long dominated by synthetics, signalling a shift in how natural fibres are valued in technical apparel. One o... Read More

Australian family-owned agribusiness Fox & Lillie Rural has announced the acquisition of Rhodes Wool in Adelaide South Australia, marking a significant expansion of the company’s presence in one of Australia’s premier wool-growing regions. The acquisition builds on a longstanding relationship between the two businesses dating back to the mid 1960’s when Fox & Lillie first purchased wool from Rhodes Wool. More rec... Read More

According to domestic customs statistics released this week, China’s spunlace nonwovens exports hit a record monthly high of 43,913 tons in Apr 2026, with a y-o-y increase of 10% and a m-o-m rise of 14%. The export value stood at 99.02 million USD, up 11% y-o-y and 14% m-o-m. The total exports from Jan to Apr amounted to 153,660 tons, a y-o-y increase of 6%. In April, exports of spunlace nonwovens to the top five... Read More