Wool bales inspection

The Australian wool market found its footing this week, with the Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) posting a solid 14-cent gain to close at 1,203 cents per kilogram. This marked the first meaningful recovery after four consecutive weeks of declines.

With a pass-in rate of 8.9% and just 27,169 bales offered nationally, this week’s offering was the smallest of the season. By which tested buyer resolve as we approach the season’s end, the tight supply immediately translated into competitive bidding, As a result, all three selling centres posted positive results, a reassuring outcome for many.

Sydney’s superfines surged, with 17-micron wool rocketing 52¢ to 1,700¢. The 17.5-micron followed suit with a 21¢ rise to 1,630¢. Even broader types participated, with 19.5-micron posting an impressive 31¢ gain to 1,519¢.

Melbourne matched Sydney’s enthusiasm across the board. The standout performer was 18-micron wool, which lifted 36¢ to 1,608¢. The 17.5-micron wasn’t far behind, gaining 25¢ to reach 1,627¢.

In Perth, despite reduced volumes due to Fremantle’s closure, the market delivered equally impressive results with the WMI lifting 12 cents to close at 1364 cents per kilogram. The 18-micron category led with a 31¢ surge to 1,587¢, while 19.5-micron added 14¢ to reach 1,494¢, and 20-micron gained 15¢ to close at 1,462¢.

The crossbred market was equally positive. Melbourne’s 28-micron lots climbed 10¢ to 443¢/kg clean, while Sydney’s 28-micron fleece added 5¢ to 445¢/kg. The often-overlooked 30-micron category found favour in Melbourne, gaining 7¢ to 372¢/kg, reflecting steady demand for coarser fibre.

This week in Mecardo (see article here), Andrew Woods explored the mutton-to-lamb price ratio, finding it currently sits around 70%, up from 30–40% in the 1990s. He also highlighted seasonal trends, with the ratio typically peaking mid-year, making mutton relatively more valuable from June to August.

Next week

Looking ahead, next week’s roster shows 28,346 bales scheduled across all three selling centres, though any shift in buyer sentiment could test the market’s recent gains.

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Data sources:  AWEX, AWI, Mecardo

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