Another blow for the Welsh wool industry as major depot set to close

In another blow to Wales’ wool sector – which, like the rest of the UK industry, has seen its fortunes weaken further during the pandemic and lockdowns – one of the country’s major depots for wool clip is to shut next month.

Janet Finch-Saunders MS, Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Energy and Rural Affairs, has expressed her concerns of the planned closure of the Porthmadog plant by British Wool, saying:

“I understand fully the reasons behind the decision for the closure; the price of wool clip is already depressed and even saving, as is hoped, as little as six or seven pence per kilo of wool might make this wonderful product just a bit more marketable.”

According to industry sources, some 11,000 tonnes of UK wool was left unsold when the Covid-19 pandemic closed international markets.

Welsh Conservative Mrs Finch-Saunders added:

“I launched our campaign for a Welsh Wool Pledge in the Senedd in September last year, and called on the administration to support farmers by acting quickly to develop the wool insulation market further and to encourage the wider use of Welsh wool by the fashion industry.

“The wool industry is on its knees, and with profit margins so small, there really must be a concerted effort by the government here to back our farmers, shepherds, and all those in the wool supply chain to make the most of Welsh wool.”