2008 News
Unmulesed wool suddenly a brand
By Marius Cuming, national sheep and wool writer - Australia
SOURCE: http://www.farmonline.com.au/news_daily.asp?ag_id=48490
6 February 2008
Unmulesed wool is no longer just a talking point, it's a distinct business advantage.
This week e-wool boss, Peter Vandeleur, was out looking for wool from non-mulesed sheep for his New Merino supply chain, with significant European buyers wanting to form direct partnerships with growers of unmulesed wool.
"Suddenly this has become an issue with wool processors throughout the chain because consumers are asking for it and garment makers are always looking for a way to differentiate themselves," Mr Vandeleur says.
"Believe me this is not a fad."
The specific request for certified non-mulesed wool involves a significant quantity of wool every year.
"This is not 20 bales we are talking about, this buyer wants hundreds of bales to start with," he says.
But naturally, farmers want to know what the premium will be.
"I can well see a premium emerging very quickly and because this is only just emerging for us this week it is hard to put an exact figure on it.
"What I can say though is that this wool is to go into the performance wear market.
"Those wools command a higher price at retail anyway so I am very confident of attractive prices here."
Mr Vandeleur adds that this is another example of the wool industry segmenting and evolving from a commodity trade into an industry where different wools service very different markets.