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As reported last week, it felt like the wool market was stirring on the back of positive Chinese economic stimulus. This week it posted the largest weekly rise in 15 months and managed to clear all but 590 bales that were offered for sale.

It was a disjointed selling week with Sydney taking Monday off to digest the Penrith premiership, sales were spread across three selling days with all centres reporting strong price lifts on all selling days.

Keen demand for Merino fleece and Merino skirtings pushed the EMI up 35 cents to 1,139 c/kg clean. A slightly weaker US$ saw the market lift a more modest 3 c/kg clean in US$ terms.

Growers responded positively to the improved bidding, passing just 1.8% of the 31,951 bales offered, for a clearance of 31,365 bales. Wool producers have also shown a willingness to sell into this rally with 42,000 bales listed for next week.

It will be interesting to see if increased volume dampens this rally, or is it as one wool broker noted, “perhaps the start of the big rally?”

The Western wool market was the standout in a positive week, the Western Market Indicator improved 51¢ to 1281¢/kg. Of note was the 96 c/kg clean lift in the 18 MPG category.

This week on Mecardo, Andrew Woods looked at the supply & price outlook for medium & broad wool, making the comparison between Non-Wool Staple Fibre (NWSF).  (read more here).  The 21 MPG looks to be well below fair value in relation to NWSF prices currently. NWSF prices are also low at present, reflecting weak demand for apparel at the retail level. There looks to be plenty of upside for both the NWSF price and the ratio of the 21 MPG to the NWSF in the next few years.

Next week

All eyes will be on the upcoming sales, the long period of weak markets has many in the industry preparing for a rally, is this it?

Next week’s offering is currently rostered at 42,000 bales with all centres selling on Tuesday & Wednesday.

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Data sources: Mecardo

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