Nutrien Ag Solutions sheep farm.

In a fitting end to a season marked by volatility and tight supply, the wool market held firm in the final sale of the 2024–25 season. The Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) closed unchanged at 1,207 cents per kilogram, providing a steady close despite global trade tensions. This week’s offering reached 29,848 bales, with a low pass-in rate of 7.4 percent.

Micron movements were generally subdued, with some regional variation. In the South, the 18MPG slipped 4 cents to 1,600 cents, while the 21MPG eased 6 cents to 1,377 cents. The North also saw softer results, with the 19MPG down 15 cents. In contrast, the West recorded firmer demand for broader types, with the 28MPG lifting 23 cents to 675 cents, making it the season’s strongest performer in percentage terms. Skirtings were mixed across all centres, and cardings posted modest gains, particularly in Fremantle, where the Merino Carding Indicator rose 14 cents.

Across the season, national supply was markedly tighter. Total bales offered fell 14.3% year-on-year, with 1,565,809 bales put through auctions. That decline translated into a total turnover of $1.94 billion, down $298 million from the previous year. Despite that, the EMI still gained 65 cents for the season, a 5.7% increase in AUD terms, though only 1.4 % higher in USD.

This week in Mecardo, Andrew Woods revisited apparel fibre prices, analysing how the falling Australian wool supply is impacting the market (see article here). He found that despite tighter volumes, wool prices remain subdued, with weak global demand limiting any significant price lift across the broader fibre sector.

The week ahead….

With the 2025–26 season kicking off next week and 30,351 bales on offer, auctions return to regular selling days. Despite the refresh from an admin point of view, the prevailing economic climate unfortunately doesn’t switch overnight and pricing will still likely trade in a narrow range.

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Data sources: AWEX, Mecardo

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