AUSTRALIA’S wool market closed down for the final week of the 2025/26 season, with the benchmark indicator falling 46 cents to 1943c/kg clean.

The Australian Wool Exchange said the market closed the season weakly, with large overall losses recorded.

The trade was offered 26,179 bales, 4928 more than last week, and brokers passed in 16.6 percent as lots failed to reach reserves.

AWEX said there has been a total of 1,512,940 bales offered during the season, 52,869 bales fewer than the previous season, a reduction of 3.4pc.

“The overall drop was driven by large falls in the Merino fleece sector,” AWEX said.

“These losses were reflected in the Merino fleece Micron Price Guides that dropped by between 15 and 105 cents for the week.”

The crossbred sector again recorded gains, with its MPGs gaining between 2 and 55 cents.

“The stronger crossbred market prevented the benchmark Eastern Market Indicator from recording a larger fall,” AWEX said.

AWEX said the EMI opened the season at 1207 cents, and over the course of the season the EMI added 736 cents, an increase of 61pc.

“In US dollar terms, the EMI added US557 cents for the season, an increase of 71pc.

“Despite the overall smaller national seasonal offering, the total dollar amount of wool sold has well exceeded the previous season,” AWEX said.

“There has been a total of $2614 million worth of wool sold through the auction system, $675 million more than was sold in the previous season.”

Next week is the first sale of the 2026/27 wool selling season.

Normally one of the larger sales of the season as some sellers wait to sell in the new financial year, AWEX said this year it would not be the case, as a lot of wool has been sold already, by sellers taking advantage of the higher prices on offer. There is currently expected to be 33,489 bales on offer nationally.

Buyers more price-sensitive – AWI

Australian Wool Innovation said the Western Market Indicator 41 cents for the WMI easing to 2129 c/kg and in USD terms to US1470 cents, a fall of 63 usc/kg.

AWI said across the catalogue this week saw fine Merino types (16.5-19μ) come under heavy pressure, easing 70-75 cents across the selling centres.

“Medium Merinos (19.5-21μ) also recorded significant losses of 65-70 cents, although the declines were slightly less severe than those in the finer microns.”

In contrast, crossbreds (25-32μ) continued to attract buyer support, lifting 15-20 cents, while Merino cardings eased 10-15 cents. The week again highlighted the divergence between the Merino and crossbred sectors, with broader wool types outperforming the finer Merino market.

“This week’s sale saw buyers become more price-sensitive following several weeks of strong market gains.

“Sellers; however, remained reluctant to accept lower bids, with the clearance rate easing to 83.4pc,” AWI said.

“Rather than signalling a widespread deterioration in demand, the week’s result pointed to buyers reassessing value after an extended period of strong price appreciation.

“However, the broader context of the 2025/26 season should not be overlooked,” AWI said.

Source – AWEX, AWI.