Wool prices surge 70% as UFU urges farmers not to miss out

UFU Beef and Lamb and Hill Farming chairs on their visit to the British Wool depot in Bradford last week.

Sheep farmers across Northern Ireland are being urged to take advantage of the strongest wool market seen in more than a decade after prices for the 2025 wool clip jumped by around 70%.

The Ulster Farmers’ Union says wool — once widely regarded as a low-value by-product barely worth collecting — is now covering most shearing costs for many farmers and, in some cases, delivering a surplus.

The sharp rise comes amid growing international demand for British and Ulster wool, with buyers from around the world competing for stock at high-speed online auctions where large lots can sell in seconds.

UFU delegation witnesses booming demand

Representatives from the UFU’s Beef and Lamb and Hill Farming committees travelled to the British Wool depot in Bradford last week to see first-hand how wool is graded, tested, marketed and sold after leaving farms across Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

The visit included observing the online wool auction process, where lots weighing up to eight tonnes were sold in as little as 15 seconds.

UFU deputy president Clement Lynch said the strength of demand was impossible to ignore.

“The visit allowed us to see first-hand what happens to wool once it leaves the farm gate,” he said.

“From grading and testing through to the online wool auction process, where lots of up to eight tonnes were sold in as little as 15 seconds, it was clear there is strong international demand for British and Ulster wool.”

Mr Lynch said buyers from across the globe were actively competing for British Wool products, including wool originating from Northern Ireland farms.

“The auction was extremely strong with buyers from all over the world competing to purchase British Wool, including multiple lots from Northern Ireland,” he added.

Farmers urged to think carefully before selling elsewhere

The UFU is now encouraging sheep farmers locally to carefully consider where they market their wool this summer, warning that many may underestimate the current value of the product.

Mr Lynch said perceptions around wool have changed dramatically compared with previous years when prices were often so poor that wool was viewed as little more than a by-product.

“Farmers should be aware of the strong prices currently available through Ulster Wool,” he said.

“Unlike previous years where wool was often viewed as a low-value product worth only a few pence per kilogram, it is now covering the majority of shearing costs and in many cases leaving a modest surplus.”

He also warned against storing wool for extended periods in the hope of securing better returns later.

According to the UFU, prolonged storage can reduce wool quality, lower its market value and create unnecessary additional costs for farmers already under pressure from rising expenses.

From carpets to clothing: where wool ends up

Following the Bradford visit, the delegation travelled to the Haworth Scouring Plant, where wool from around the world is processed and prepared to meet different customer specifications and blends.

The visit highlighted the scale and diversity of the wool industry supply chain, with British wool continuing to be used across a wide range of products.

Current figures show:

• 52% of British wool is used in carpets

• 23% is used in knitwear

• 14% goes into cloth production

• 9% is used in beds and bedding

• 2% is used in other products

The UFU said the figures underline the continuing importance of wool not only to agriculture, but also to manufacturing and sustainable consumer industries.

Environmental message behind wool push

Alongside the improved financial outlook, the UFU is also pushing the environmental benefits of wool as pressure grows globally to reduce reliance on synthetic materials.

Mr Lynch said natural fibres such as wool offer a more sustainable alternative to man-made products which can remain in landfill for hundreds of years.

“While it is more expensive initially, wool is a natural, sustainable and environmentally friendly fibre compared to synthetic alternatives which can take hundreds of years to break down in landfill,” he said.

“As farmers and consumers, we need to lead by example and support the wool industry by choosing wool products wherever possible.”

For sheep farmers across counties Antrim, Down, Tyrone and beyond, the stronger market offers a rare boost at a time when many agricultural sectors continue to face rising operational costs and ongoing financial uncertainty.