Non-mulesed premiums

Traditionally merino fleece pricing has been based on an additive model where a base price is established and then premiums or discounts are added for particular levels of characteristics. This method underpins the classic premium and discount reports produced by the industry. The reality is more complex and has become so. Some mill consignments require a certain set of characteristics, which if a lot meets enables it to be considered. For example the “traditional Italian” type of merino fleece will have a staple length between 70 and 90 mm, a staple strength of high 30s and greater, a vegetable fault level somewhere around 1.8% maximum for individual lots with an average for the consignment of 1% and so on. As a result we get some big step differences in prices between wool types as lots qualify for different mill orders.

With this complexity in mind Figure 1 compares two eastern merino combing fleece series sold in August, one which was accredited CM-NM (not mulesed) and the rest. The series are shown by lines (left hand scale) running from 13.5 micron through to 22.5 micron (horizontal axis). The difference between the two series in percentage terms is shown by the bars (right hand scale). One complexity not dealt with here is the presence of RWS wool in the CM-NM series, it is included and will boost the price and price difference.  As previous analysis has shown, the price effect (premium) for non-mulesed merino fleece increases as the fibre diameter decreases from around the merino average of 19 micron. It is quite substantial for 18 micron and finer wool. For the major merino categories (18.5 to 20 micron) the premium is in the 1% to 3% range. What is new is that a premium is showing up on the very broad edge of the merino fleece micron distribution (on vert small volumes).

Now the premiums for non-mulesed are conditional upon other characteristics being present. For example there are no non-mulesed premiums for dags. A less extreme example is shown in Figure 2 where the eastern CM-NM price difference for best style 90 mm long merino fleece with 40 N/ktx staple strength is compared to premiums for 90 mm long merino fleece with a staple strength of 30 N/ktx. All the wool was sold in August. The high staple strength, best style merino fleece shows much more consistent (substantial) premiums with the premiums for the lower strength wool being hit and miss. The message here is that premiums for CM-NM wool is concentrated in the higher value consignments made up of better quality wool. The premiums are not evenly distributed across different wool qualities.