THE coming year holds much hope for British sheep farmers, according to the British Wool Marketing Board (BWMB).

Speaking ahead of the NSA Central Region Winter Fair Gareth Jones, BWMB producer communications manager, said 2015 offers a number of exciting opportunities for all involved in the wool sector.

Wool prices and clearance rates in the latter half of 2014 were strong and demand remained forthright for all classes of wool being sold.

"After the latest British Wool sale held in the first week of January more than 17m kgs of wool had been sold from the 2014 clip, with clearances of 96 and 98 per cent at the two most recent sales," he said.

"From a clearance perspective, compared to last year, we are very much on target and, subject to no major global problems affecting the market, we anticipate minimal stock at the end of the season."

Mr Jones said, to date, the overall sale average price for the 2014 season was up 4p/kg for producers, compared to the same period last year. "This average increase of 4p/kg is perhaps not as high as we might like, especially on the carpet types, but we are hopeful that with the continued clearance levels at auctions, a further increase will be seen through the remainder of this year’s selling season."

Global demand for British wool remained strong and falling sheep numbers in many parts of the world, meant supply and demand was finely balanced. "While we’re unlikely to see prices make any dramatic surges, a tightening of supply does mean prices should hold strong," he said.

Malcolm Corbett, BWMB chairman, and staff will be at the NSA Central Region Winter Fair at Bakewell on Thursday, January 29. Among other activities, they will hold a morning and afternoon drop-in session on wool, its use as a fibre and the process it goes through once it’s been sheared from the sheep.