The UK has a proud tradition of wool production going back many centuries. British Wool is an independent public body who work on behalf of the wool industry to promote the use of British wool. As a natural, versatile, and durable textile, which is renewable, biodegradable, and environmentally sustainable, wool from across Britain is already being used in flooring, furnishing, apparel, insultation and bedding.

British Wool’s 2025 Annual Report highlights its work in expanding overseas markets through promotional activity, product development, digital outreach and trade campaigns, boosting global visibility and international demand for British wool products.

British Wool also operate a licensee scheme to help consumers identify products with certifiable British wool content, identified by the recognisable ‘crook mark’. The Government continues to work with British Wool to raise awareness of the role wool can play in a supporting a resilient rural economy.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on imports and exports of goods to and from the UK which includes data on imports of fish and fisheries products, wool and meat products from the Falkland Islands. HMRC releases this information monthly, as an Accredited National Statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics (OTS), which is available via their dedicated website (www.uktradeinfo.com).

From this website, it is possible to build your own data tables based upon bespoke search criteria. To use the tables, you will need the commodity codes for fish, fisheries products, wool and meat products. These codes are publicly available from the UK Trade Tariff at https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff . Fish are classified within Chapter 03 of the Tariff, wool is found within Chapter 51 and fisheries and meat products within Chapter 16.

The data on the website will, within limitations, tell you the total value of imports of these products into the UK from the Falklands Islands. It includes value and weight (kg) of imports. However, it will not identify individual items as this could identify individual importers. This would be in conflict with Section 18 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (CRCA). CRCA restricts the information that HMRC may disclose publicly on persons making imports and exports.

If you need help or support in constructing a table from the data on uktradeinfo, please contact uktradeinfo@hmrc.gov.uk.

A new framework document was published in May 2025 and sets out the strategic relationship between Defra, the Devolved Governments, and British Wool. The Framework establishes clear governance arrangements and shared priorities, ensuring British Wool is well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of the sector. The framework document was informed by a review of British Wool’s operations, including its structure and market position, conducted jointly by Defra and Devolved Governments, this was published on 15 March 2023.

While the Department is not currently undertaking a separate assessment of British Wool’s effectiveness in supporting farmer incomes, the Framework Document provides a foundation for ongoing collaboration and performance monitoring. Defra remains committed to working with British Wool and industry stakeholders to ensure the organisation continues to deliver value to sheep farmers and contributes to the long-term sustainability of the wool sector.

British Wool is a public body, responsible for the collection, sale and marketing of wool from across the UK. While Defra maintains regular engagement with British Wool and monitors its strategic performance through a framework agreement, the organisation remains operationally independent. As such, Defra makes no assessment on the process by which payments are returned to producers.

Sales are conducted by auction throughout the year and reflect global market developments in price and availability. Payments to British Wool’s producer members are calculated at year end once the full value of that member’s clip is known. Returns are based on the weight and quality of wool delivered and the average value each grade achieved at auction. Payments are available from 1 May at the start of the following clip year and are released automatically when new season wool is delivered or on request from members.

British Wool, a public body, is responsible for the collection, sale and marketing of wool from across the UK. Sales are conducted through open auction and will reflect global market developments in price and availability.

This Government has made no assessment on the impact of policies on wool prices; however Defra officials meet regularly with British Wool, who share regular reports on auction sales and wool values.

We have a proud tradition of wool production in this country. We recognise the sheep sector’s immense contribution to rural life, local economies, and iconic landscapes across the different countries of the UK.

British Wool is a public body that works on behalf of farmers to collect, grade, market and sell British wool to the wool textile industry. As a natural, versatile, and durable textile, which is renewable, biodegradable, and environmentally sustainable, wool from Britain is already used in flooring, furnishing, apparel and indeed insultation.

British Wool is a public body who work on behalf of the wool industry to collect, grade, monitor, market and sell British wool to the international wool textile industry.

Defra officials meet regularly with British Wool, who share regular reports on auction sales and wool values. Although prices fell below 50p per kg for the first time from March 2020 onwards following the outbreak of Covid 19 they have recently recovered to 77.5p per kg.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is developing a UK-wide, cross-government Export Strategy, driving economic recovery and the levelling-up agenda. On the 1^st October, DIT launched the Export Support Service, allowing UK businesses to get answers to practical questions about exporting to Europe. DIT also has expert trade advisers locally and overseas, which support both wool and textile exporters, providing access to UK Export Finance and a range of online services unlocking opportunities globally.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is developing a UK-wide, cross-government Export Strategy, driving economic recovery and the levelling-up agenda. On the 1^st October, DIT launched the Export Support Service, allowing UK businesses to get answers to practical questions about exporting to Europe. DIT also has expert trade advisers locally and overseas, which support both wool and textile exporters, providing access to UK Export Finance and a range of online services unlocking opportunities globally.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is developing a UK-wide, cross-government Export Strategy, driving economic recovery and the levelling-up agenda. On the 1^st October, DIT launched the Export Support Service, allowing UK businesses to get answers to practical questions about exporting to Europe. DIT also has expert trade advisers locally and overseas, which support both wool and textile exporters, providing access to UK Export Finance and a range of online services unlocking opportunities globally.

The Government is committed to meeting its target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The National Planning Policy Framework sets out how we expect the planning system to help mitigate and adapt to climate change. In their development plan policies, local planning authorities can encourage the use of sustainable materials like wool in new development

We have not made any assessment of the value of wool as a thermal insulator. The Building Regulations are generally couched in performance terms and do not prescribe the technologies, materials or fuels to be used, allowing builders the flexibility to innovate and select the most practical and cost-effective solutions in particular circumstances. Developers are able to use wool products in construction projects where it is safe to do so and where it can be shown to meet all applicable Building Regulations requirements.

The Government’s ambitions are for a world-leading system that unlocks innovation and growth throughout all parts of the economy across the UK. Research and development are central to igniting the UK’s economic recovery, boosting productivity, creating new jobs and improving people’s quality of life.

Last Summer, we published the R&D Roadmap which outlines our plan to ensure the UK is the best place in the world for scientists, researchers, and entrepreneurs to live and work. Through our R&D Places Strategy, we will ensure research and development benefits the economies in places across the UK, including Wales, as part of our wider commitment to levelling up.

In November 2020, the Spending Review set out the government’s plan to cement the UK’s status as a global leader in science and innovation by investing £14.6bn in R&D in 2021-22. We will increase public R&D investment to £22bn per year by 2024-25. This investment supports our commitments set out in the R&D Roadmap and helps consolidate our position as a science superpower.

We are continuing to work with devolved administrations and other Government departments on delivering the R&D Roadmap.

Trade promotion campaigns in key markets; partnership working with stakeholders, such as the UK Fashion and Textiles Association, at tradeshows, like Premier Vision; leveraging of the DIT’s teams in 110 countries; financing and insurance from UK Export Finance; and the global promotion of the GREAT campaign; are some of the many measures being taken to support British wool exports.