A group of Elders staff and clients recently returned from a two-week tour of China, visiting a range of textile mills, farms and retail operations that process and sell wool.
District Wool Manager at Elders Hamilton, Kate Methven, said the itinerary offered a balance of industry insight and cultural experience, with a strong focus on wool throughout.
“We were able to see it right through from greasy wool through to the finished product, and then even in-store,” Kate said.
“That full supply chain view is something you don’t get to experience at home, and it really helps connect what growers are producing with the end product.”
The trip is one part of Elders’ ongoing effort to connect Australian woolgrowers with the people and places that handle their product after it leaves the farm.
The group visited a range of wool mills and manufacturers, including Shanghai Challenge. They also visited Nanshan Textiles in Yantai, one of the world’s only fully vertical operations, transforming greasy wool into 2,000 finished suits per day on a single site. They visited farms in Inner Mongolia, where Merino sheep are raised in particularly tough conditions using largely Australian genetics.
“It was really interesting seeing the conditions they’re working in over there,” Kate said.
“They’re quite tough environments, but they’re still running Merinos and doing a really good job with them, which was great to see.”
This year’s group included one extra participant; Jacob Scales joined the tour after winning a full scholarship to attend during the SA Sheep Expo in April.
Kate said Jacob made a strong impression on the group.
“Jacob is very open-minded and engaged in what was happening with the group, which was great to see,” she said.
“I think it was a really valuable experience for him, but it was also great for all of us to have him there. He brought a fresh perspective.”
Kate explained that the tour helped the group build a stronger understanding of the global market and brought together a group of like-minded woolgrowers to share the experience.
“Everyone came back really positive about where we went and what we did,” she said.
“It has given me a much broader understanding of the industry, but also the chance to share that experience with others who are just as invested in wool as I am.”
If you are interested in attending future tours with Elders, you can submit an expression of interest.
