Wool prices predicted to at least double from low base

There are brighter prospects on the horizon for the 2026 wool season clip with global demand rising on the back of a continued tightening in supply.

A number of merchants purchasing wool in Ireland have yet to set price for the 2026 season but all are predicting that the price of lowland wool will be upwards of 60c/kg for lowland wool.

This represents a doubling on 2025 prices, but it must be stressed that the increase is coming from a very low base with wool returns still not in a position to cover contractor shearing costs. Nevertheless it is at least a move in the right direction.

A couple of merchants are waiting on the results of the last British Wool auction to get a more accurate reflection on price with some forecasting that there is a possibility that prices may be stronger.

Prices quoted for white Scotch wool are in the region of 30c/kg to 35c/kg with black scotch wool quotes at 15c/kg to 20c/kg, but again with the prospect of prices being marginally higher.

Ulster Wool and British Wool have come out of the traps early and are forecasting prices to increase by 25p/kg to 30p/kg (29c/kg to 35c/kg).

This follows on from prices increasing by 28p/kg to 68p/kg (32c/kg to 79c/kg) for the 2025 wool season clip. If it materialises, it will lift prices for many grades to approximately £1/kg (€1.15/kg).

Table 1 details the average price for the 2024 and 2025 season and also the forecast price for the 2026 season based on recent auction results in British Wool sales.

Both companies are in the market for wool and are said to be looking beyond their normal catchment areas to source higher quantities.

There is just a couple of days for farmers to apply for the National Sheep Welfare Scheme and obtain a payment of €4 per ewe for the sheep shearing action.

The deadline is midnight on Friday 15 May 2026.

There a couple of important aspects to remember to comply with the sheep shearing action.

Shearing needs to be carried out on the payable number of sheep applied for at application stage.

If a contractor is carrying out the shearing then a receipt of payment or cheque showing payment needs to be made available in the case of an inspection along with payment remittance from wool sales.

If there is no contractor receipt, then an applicant will be required to have a receipt for the sale of the wool.

In this scenario this is acceptable where a) there is evidence that the ewes have been shorn and they are verified by the Inspector in an on the ground inspection and/or b) time stamped photos of the shorn ewes have been submitted (desk check).

As such it is important to remember to take a few photos at shearing time and retain as proof.

The terms and conditions state that “if shearing has been carried out by the applicant, a photograph of the shorn sheep will be required.

“If wool has not been sold to a wool merchant, a photograph of the wool on the holding will be required”.