EQ Wools’ Gaynor Scott presents at the natural fibres seminar.

BANGLADESH could be a critically important market for Australia’s natural fibre industries, including wool, according to peak grower body WoolProducers Australia.

WoolProducers, the Australian Cotton Shippers Association and Austrade recently hosted the Australian Natural Fibres Seminar in Bangladesh.

About 200 representatives from Bangladesh’s textile, spinning, manufacturing and apparel sectors attended the seminar in Dhaka on 22 June.

WoolProducers said the attendance underscored the growing interest in sustainable, traceable and high-quality natural fibres and strengthening ties between the Australian and Bangladeshi textile industries.

WoolProducers Australia chief executive officer Jo Hall said the exceptional attendance reflected Bangladesh’s interest in natural fibres that can meet increasing global expectations around sustainability, transparency and product performance.

“Bangladesh has the potential to be a critically important market for Australia’s natural fibre industries, including Australian wool.

“The seminar provided an invaluable opportunity to demonstrate the quality, versatility and sustainability credentials of Australian wool and cotton while strengthening relationships across the entire textile value chain,” she said.

WoolProducers CEO Jo Hall addresses the natural fibre seminar.

“We were delighted by the strong industry participation and the level of engagement throughout the day.

“It is clear there is growing interest in sourcing fibres that are renewable, biodegradable and backed by credible assurance systems.”

WoolProducers said the seminar brought together leading Australian wool and cotton industry representatives to showcase the environmental credentials, innovation and commercial opportunities offered by Australia’s natural fibre industries.

The event formed the centrepiece of a four-day Australian industry mission to Bangladesh and featured presentations from industry leaders from wool and cotton including growers, exporters, processors and sustainability experts. A strong focus was placed on the expanding opportunities for Australian wool in Bangladesh, one of the world’s largest textile and garment manufacturing nations, WoolProducers said.

The seminar featured presentations on wool production, sustainability and traceability initiatives, the Sheep Sustainability Framework, Woolmark innovation programs, market reporting and quality assurance systems. Participants also heard from Australian wool exporters and processors about opportunities to diversify fibre sourcing and increase the use of wool in modern textile applications, WoolProducers said.

The peak body said panel discussions explored the advantages of natural fibres compared with synthetic alternatives, highlighting wool’s renewable, biodegradable and circular economy credentials, alongside its performance, durability and versatility in apparel and textile manufacturing.

The Australian delegation included representatives from WoolProducers, AWEX, Woolmark, Michell Wool, eqwools and the Australian Cotton Shippers Association and Cotton Australia, reflecting the collaborative approach being taken to grow demand for Australian natural fibres across South Asia.

Australian cotton industry representatives also outlined Australia’s production outlook, sustainability programs and innovation across the cotton supply chain.

Ms Hall said the seminar and broader trade mission would not have been possible without the support of the Australian Government.

“WoolProducers gratefully acknowledges the support of the Commonwealth Government through the Accessing New Markets Initiative, and the outstanding assistance provided by Austrade in delivering this mission.

“Austrade’s leadership, both in Australia and Bangladesh, has been instrumental in bringing together industry stakeholders, facilitating commercial engagement and helping position Australian natural fibres for future growth in this important market.”

The delegation also participated in a series of site visits with leading Bangladeshi textile manufacturers, spinning mills and garment producers in Chittagong, Valuka, Gazipur and Tongi, providing opportunities to strengthen commercial relationships and better understand emerging market opportunities.

WoolProducers said the mission aims to deepen industry cooperation and support greater adoption of Australian wool and cotton within Bangladesh’s globally significant textile and apparel sector.