CROSSBRED wool prices improved, but Merino values lost ground in the last auctions of the 2024-25 selling season.

However, non-mulesed Responsible Wool Standard-certified clips maintained premiums of 150 cents/kg-plus, especially in the the 19-20.5 micron area.

The Australian Wool Exchange said the market finished much the way it has behaved all season, recording very little change, in this case, an unchanged benchmark Eastern Market Indicator of 1207c/kg clean.

“Another common thread has been the large impact of currency fluctuations, minimal movement in the Australian dollar (AUD) meant little influence of the market, the EMI gained US1 cent for the series,” AWEX said.

AWEX said Fremantle returned to the auction program, pushing the offering up to 29,848 bales, 9092 more than last week.

“Now the season has concluded we can accurately compare quantities.

“This season there was 1,565,809 bales offered, this was 261,100 fewer bales or 14.3 percent less than the previous season.”

AWEX said the EMI opened the season (July 2024) on 1142 cents/kg clean.

“The EMI has since gained 65 cents, closing at 1207 cents, a seasonal increase of 5.7pc.

“In USD terms, the EMI opened at US773 cents and is now US784 cents, an increase of US11 cents, a rise of just 1.4pc.”

AWEX said to view the performance of micron pockets it analysed the individual Micron Price Guides (MPGs) in the south.

“The strongest performer for the season (in percentage terms) was the 28 MPG, rising by 71 cents, or 18.1pc.

“The best of the Merinos was the 21 MPG which added 108 cents, an increase of 8.3pc.”

AWEX said the reduction in the national offering had a direct impact on the total dollar amount sold for the season.

“The market value of the wool put through the auction system for the season was $1940 million, this was $298 million lower than the previous season, a fall of 13.3pc.

“This fall corresponds with the fall in the total bales offered.”

RWS clips maintain premiums – AWI

Australian Wool Innovation trade consultant Scott Carmody said on the surface, the lack of change in the general indicators hid the fact that most crossbred and carding types put on some handy gains.

“Values appreciated to the order of anywhere between 5 and 20 cents clean within both those type sectors.

“The Western Australian selling centre of Fremantle also added around 15c/kg clean kg to their mostly Merino indicator on the sole day of trading on Tuesday.”

Mr Carmody said additionally, a majority of the Merino fleece on offer in the two eastern Australian auction room centres saw prices falling away somewhat.

“Most quotes by week’s end were a general 5-10 cents lower on average, but once again, this figure came about by a heavier price reduction on poorer specification sales lots, whilst the better lots remained reasonably firm.

“Of particular note this week was the larger discounts the market has now applied to the very low yields from drought affected growing regions,” he said.

“Whilst other test results are within the norm, the price adjustment for sale lots with Schlumberger dry 1pc yields lower than around 60pc has now blown out to be around 40-50 cents below the average for similar micron and VM results.

“The offshore top makers are soaking those lots up, with traders only able to absorb the odd lot or two, thus the reduction in competition,” Mr Carmody said.

“The largest China top makers were again the main buyers this week and quite noticeably, as prices slowly reduced within the Merino fleece sector, their buying intensity appeared to lift further.

“The top two (direct buying) top makers eventually took a third of the sold Merino fleece wool available this week,” he said.

“Australia’s largest exporter – TechWool Trading — was also very active by acquiring around 15pc of the entire offering.”

Mr Carmody said Responsible Wool Standard-certified scheme clips continue to achieve the top prices for the week and across all microns.

“This is around 150 cents+ above the normal types of price levels and are percentage-wise greatest at the 19-20.5 micron area.”

Around 30,000 bales will be offer at all centres to start the new season and selling Tuesday and Wednesday in the East, but Fremantle just on Tuesday.

Sources – AWEX, AWI.