The Eastern Market
Indicator (EMI) improved across the week by 9 cents settling at 1,099¢/kg
clean, the major driver being the slightly weaker Au$. The EMI in US$ terms was
unchanged for the week.
The improvement was
spread across the Merino MPGs, with the best-performed categories in Melbourne
being 16.5 MPG posting a 24¢ lift, and the 20 MPG improving 20¢. In Sydney, the
best performers were 17 MPG, up 22¢, and the 17.5 MPG rising 34¢.
The Fremantle
market followed the east, with the Western Market Indicator plus 9 cents on
last week. It was a similar story across the board for the merino types,
however, the Cardings in the west lifted 17 cents, bucking the trend for
Cardings in Sydney & Melbourne where they were quoted marginally cheaper.
Crossbred wool
results were mixed this week. In Melbourne, the 28 & 30 MPG lifted 5¢ however
26 MPG retreated 13 cents.
Originally 29,971 bales
were rostered, with 28,336 bales sold after 5.5% were passed in bales sold.
This was 341 more bales than last week.
AWEX reports that
after 8 selling weeks in this season, 74,897 fewer bales have been offered, a
21.9% reduction on last year. Clearance to the trade over the eight weeks has
averaged 30,824 per week, while for the same period last season 38,897 bales on
average were sold.
Andrew Woods on Mecardo
this week looked at what appears to be in Western Australia a structural
reduction in the flock size (read more here).
By default, the
merino wool industry has been pushing prices relative to other (major) fibres
upwards by reducing production for three decades. This process appears to be
ongoing, especially in Western Australia. Spring rainfall in 2024 remains
critical to sheep numbers and wool production for the following year (2025)
which is normal. The bigger falls in broader merino micron categories compared
to the finer micron categories will maintain pressure on micron premiums to
remain at current levels or lower.
Merino market lifts
The Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) improved across the week by 9 cents settling at 1,099¢/kg clean, the major driver being the slightly weaker Au$. The EMI in US$ terms was unchanged for the week.
The improvement was spread across the Merino MPGs, with the best-performed categories in Melbourne being 16.5 MPG posting a 24¢ lift, and the 20 MPG improving 20¢. In Sydney, the best performers were 17 MPG, up 22¢, and the 17.5 MPG rising 34¢.
The Fremantle market followed the east, with the Western Market Indicator plus 9 cents on last week. It was a similar story across the board for the merino types, however, the Cardings in the west lifted 17 cents, bucking the trend for Cardings in Sydney & Melbourne where they were quoted marginally cheaper.
Crossbred wool results were mixed this week. In Melbourne, the 28 & 30 MPG lifted 5¢ however 26 MPG retreated 13 cents.
Originally 29,971 bales were rostered, with 28,336 bales sold after 5.5% were passed in bales sold. This was 341 more bales than last week.
AWEX reports that after 8 selling weeks in this season, 74,897 fewer bales have been offered, a 21.9% reduction on last year. Clearance to the trade over the eight weeks has averaged 30,824 per week, while for the same period last season 38,897 bales on average were sold.
Andrew Woods on Mecardo this week looked at what appears to be in Western Australia a structural reduction in the flock size (read more here).
By default, the merino wool industry has been pushing prices relative to other (major) fibres upwards by reducing production for three decades. This process appears to be ongoing, especially in Western Australia. Spring rainfall in 2024 remains critical to sheep numbers and wool production for the following year (2025) which is normal. The bigger falls in broader merino micron categories compared to the finer micron categories will maintain pressure on micron premiums to remain at current levels or lower.
Next week
A further 32,121 bales are listed for next week with Melbourne and Sydney selling on Tuesday & Wednesday, while Fremantle will sell on Tuesday only.
Have any questions or comments?
Click on graph to expand
Click on graph to expand
Click on graph to expand
Data sources: Nutrien Ag Solutions, AWEX, Mecardo
Categories
Have any questions or comments?
The market continues positive start to 2025
This week’s market continued to show stronger prices despite the increased bales on offer as sellers responded to the rising market. The Eastern Market Indicator
AWTA volumes – east looks normal and the west continues to downsize
It is not hard to find doom and gloom commentary about the wool industry, which is fairly typical of the wool and sheep industries swinging
Slump in supply supports pricing
The Australian wool market has continued its relatively positive start to 2025, with the Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) rising again this week. Sellers benefitted from
New Zealand flock size and sheep and lamb offtake
Australia and New Zealand have been the big sheep meat exporters of the second half of the 20th century, with New Zealand punching above its
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