Wool bales in a shed

The opening sales following the Christmas recess showed a positive approach with all MPG’s improving on the closing 2021 levels. While the merino fleece led the way, the improvement was noted across all types, with crossbred and cardings posting gains as well.

The Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) rallied 31ȼ for the week to close at 1,389ȼ, a 2.3% improvement on the closing level of 2021. The Australian dollar was stronger, also rallying 2.3% with the US/Au rate quoted at US$0.73. This resulted in the EMI in US dollar terms having an even stronger lift, gaining 47ȼ to settle at 1013ȼ. 

The Western Market Indicator added 31ȼ to finish the week at 1439ȼ.

AWI reported that Merino fleece wools were all 35 to 70ac dearer, with the largest gains made on the sub 17.5 micron wools. Better lighter VM (vegetable matter) skirtings were well sought to be 40ac dearer, but all other lots in that category received 10/20ac rises.

Crossbred wools and cardings were 15 to 30ac dearer with Euro interest (xbd) and local processor (cardings) dominant.

The national offering was up on the final sale for 2021, with 43,739 bales offered, almost 3,000 more than last sale. The national pass-in rate was fell to 7.3% which resulted in 40,558 bales sold, 5,000 more than the last sale.

AWTA report that for the first half of the selling season, 160.6 million kgs have been tested, 15.7% more than for the same period last year.

On Mecardo this week (view article here), Andrew Woods looked at the changing fibre diameter of wool offered for auction. In December the average fibre diameter of Merino wool sold at auction was 18.6 micron, down by 0.15 micron on December 2020 sales. As noted in the introduction, this Australia wide average masked wildly variant trends in the east and west. In eastern Australia, the average Merino fibre diameter was down 0.36 micron (sales data), while in Western Australia it was up by 0.61 micron (sales data).

The week ahead….

Next week another large offering is rostered with 47,592 bales listed with Melbourne again selling over three days.

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Data sources: AWEX, AWI, Mecardo

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