Wool2Yarn Global

Page 98

Canada

Canada - affordable solution ‘We are looking forward to demand returning to some form of normality in the near future and look forward to resuming trade with our traditional markets in China, Europe, USA and South America’, says Eric Bjergso, General Manager at Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers Limited (CCWG). ’Like the rest of the world, COVID-19 has made trading very difficult. Although some provinces in Canada have been more affected than others we are getting back to a more workable normal’. ‘Our retail farm supplies business was considered an essential service so this has kept us quite busy. Our retail clothing business closed to foot traffic mid March but reopened in June. We have seen significant growth in our ecommerce business, which has been positive for us, although most agricultural events in Canada have been cancelled for 2020’. Most Canadian wool is blended with wools from other origins. It can also be used on its own for a variety of products that favour

micron. With the closure of Yocom McColl Wool Testing Lab in Denver, Colorado, all graded Canadian wool is now objectively measured by the New Zealand Wool Testing Authority.

Eric Bjergso

coarser wool types. It is known for its highly elastic and soft handle characteristics that are recognized by manufactures as an advantage, particularly for shape retention. 90% of Canadian wool is exported to the United States, China, India, Czech Republic, Egypt and Bulgaria. ‘Processors that create blends using Canadian wool see it as a quality option and a cost effective solution to maintaining production standards. Sheep are not mulesed in Canada’, he says. Most of the Canadian wool clip ranges from 29 – 34 micron with a smaller production of 22 – 26

‘We have been accepting wool at our collection depots and grading so that we have wool ready for sale when there is an opportunity to do so. Shortage of warehouse storage space will soon become an issue that we will have to address’. CCWG grades and markets close to 1.5 million kilos of raw wool each year, in each of the three general grades of wool, (fine, medium and coarse). Wool volume handled by CCWG increased by almost 10% in 2018 compared to the previous year and remains steady in 2020. ‘It is difficult to predict when the market will start to recover. However our wool production in Canada remains consistent, mainly due to very good market prices for sheep and lamb meat that have kept sheep numbers stable’.

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96 | wool2yarnglobal 2020


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Articles inside

Latest in wool technology from Saurer, Tecnomeccanica, Coppa, Sant Andrea, AUTEFA, Prosino, Tomsic

34min
pages 144-164

Europa Wool

3min
pages 140-143

Building consumer awareness

2min
pages 138-139

British Wool in China

3min
pages 136-137

When scoured wool makes better sense

6min
pages 130-135

Consistent dye quality from one batch to the next

3min
pages 102-105

Profiles on leading Australian wool exporters

6min
pages 124-129

A fusion of tradition and innovation

7min
pages 108-113

A wool story: From chance to passion

2min
pages 106-107

Wool, Yarn and Beyond

27min
pages 84-97

Economical solution

3min
pages 98-100

The Sustainable Journey of Mohair

14min
pages 72-83

No Shortcuts to Mohair Tops Accreditation

2min
pages 70-71

Natural Fibres – where we are today

3min
pages 66-69

RWS tops a best seller

5min
pages 62-65

The magic is in the crimping

2min
pages 60-61

Mohair Yarns offers great flexibility

4min
pages 58-59

Wool integrity schemes on the rise

22min
pages 40-51

Uruguayan wool – get the full story

3min
pages 54-55

Environmental Tick of Approval

2min
pages 56-57

Broader sustainability guidelines

2min
pages 52-53

Risk and opportunity for wool in EU labelling

3min
pages 38-39

Spinning solutions for sustainability today

3min
pages 34-35

A hub for International Wool, Textile and Product Testing

4min
pages 36-37

Wool for Wellbeing in a Post-COVID World

3min
pages 30-33

Human capital key in good times and bad

3min
pages 26-27

Wool industry faces yet another battle

3min
pages 28-29

China in 2020 - not a typical year

3min
pages 16-17

Interview - Stuart McCullough AWI

4min
pages 20-21

Speaking with Pedro Otegui in Uruguay

1min
pages 24-25

The benefits of being a Woolmark licensee

3min
pages 22-23

An uncertain road ahead

7min
pages 12-15

Merino wool earns international certification

2min
pages 18-19
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