Increasing cost of wool affect tartan prices

[figheadair]

I received this from a major weaving yesterday:

Wool prices have doubled over the last 5 years as demand outweighs supply. China is now importing 80% of Australian wool. In addition to this, droughts are diminishing supply and disease is grounding South African fleeces thereby forcing up prices. We are also faced with elevating dye and chemical costs to finish the fabric and deliver the performance standard required.

The new prices come into effect on 01 April and are valid for 6 months. No surprises, it's been common knowledge in the trade for some time but I would expect that this will be reflected in the future pricing by all manufacturers.

[Arnot]

I received this as well. Their last increase wasn't all that long ago.

[Tobus]

Was there any indication of how much the prices will rise? 5%? 25%?

*edited to add: I know they said that wool prices have doubled, but it wasn't clear if this meant the actual price of tartan cloth would double, or if some of that increase had already been worked into pricing structures.

[Jock Scot]

I bet farmers won't see much of that price increase!

[Me cousin Jack]

I’m wondering if the price of colored spooled wool is going up, or if it’s just the finish product, tartan.

[Tobus]

On this subject, what are the current thoughts on the viability of reviving wool production in the Highlands? As I recall, the wool for modern tartans comes from faraway places like New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, etc., since it just wasn't a competitive industry in the Highlands. Someone remind me, didn't it lose out to game hunting on the big estates, or some such? Or was there some issue with the breeds of sheep used today, that they don't thrive in Scotland?

If indeed wool prices are going to skyrocket, would it make sheep farming an economically attractive industry to blossom once again in Scotland? Or is it still small potatoes compared to what they are getting for other uses of the land?

[Jock Scot]

On this subject, what are the current thoughts on the viability of reviving wool production in the Highlands? As I recall, the wool for modern tartans comes from faraway places like New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, etc., since it just wasn't a competitive industry in the Highlands. Someone remind me, didn't it lose out to game hunting on the big estates, or some such? Or was there some issue with the breeds of sheep used today, that they don't thrive in Scotland?

If indeed wool prices are going to skyrocket, would it make sheep farming an economically attractive industry to blossom once again in Scotland? Or is it still small potatoes compared to what they are getting for other uses of the land?

I used to have sheep on the hill, a lot of them, but they went some 20/30 years ago. I have little to do with farming these days, thats for my sons to grapple with nowadays, but in basic terms, sheep are not an economic enterprise today in the Highlands even with subsidies and price rises.

Why? Basically the cost of labour, fencing and the wrong sort of wool, also the shepherds houses have been converted to a far more profitable use of holiday lets. Actually sheep, grouse and deer march fairly happily together. Too many sheep for two or three centuries ensured the shrinkage of the native Caledonian forrest almost to extinction.

Now the sheep have mainly gone from the hill, the deer population has exploded almost to plague proportions in some places and now some fairly drastic action is being taken to reduce deer numbers to allow young trees to regenerate. A very interesting and often heated conversation is now taking place between the "tree" people, who want every deer shot on sight and the traditional deer managers, but interestingly neither side of that conversation have ever mentioned re-introducing sheep to the hill.

[AbernethyCameron]

Had posted here but edited, as I hadn't read original post properly - yes prices have more or less doubled over the last 5 years, however over the last year have been stable and have fallen slightly - the rise should be diluted through the supply chain so should never result in the same increase to the price of the end product, nowhere near.

[OC Richard]

For US customers this is softened by the relatively inexpensive Pound.

[Pleater]

Over my years as a producer of garments I have seen the luxury end fibres fade away - cashmere on cone is only a fond memory, but gradually all the fibres have vanished away from the UK market - the Italian lambswool I used to use for my basic stock is just not available, and now it seems that plain wool is going the same way.

The price has been going up for some years - I now go and rummage in the loft to find yarn rather than think about buying in new stock.

Fortunately I have enough of a stash to see me out.