 The negative market sentiment over the past few weeks has been somewhat alarming given the emotive buying pattern in the closing sale of December, pushing the EMI up 35c to 1212c with the 17 MPG topping out at 1970c and 19 MPG at 1498c.
In the three sales post Xmas the EMI has fallen 26c and the 17 MPG has retracted 102c whilst the 19 MPG retraced 62c. Conversely 28-32 MPG’s have maintained or increased their levels by 8-12c. The Merino carding indicator has also consolidated its pre-christmas levels, currently hovering between 700c-715c. Our saving grace is the large Chinese topmakers putting a quasi-floor in the merino combing wool market, indicating that the pipeline is searching for some marked improvement in the apparel sales data emerging from the Northern Hemisphere retailers. My feelings are that we have more pain to endure in the wool market until apparel retail activities improve.The AWEX EMI closed on 1186c, down 10c at auction sales in Australia last week. After a substantial reduction from last week’s 50,000 bale offering this week saw offerings fall back to 37,757 bales in Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle. Despite the weekly offering reduction, the clearance rate barely made 90% indicating some weaknesses in segments of the market. The Australia Day public holiday had a substantial impact in reducing the offering. The Merino fleece and skirting sectors felt the reduction in price whilst crossbred experienced better competition and carding wools felt little or no change from last week. The AUD spend most of last week above the opening, around .655 usc and peaked at .661 usc, this may have dampened the market slightly with the EMI in USD measuring a loss of 4c. For the second week in a row China’s largest top makers dominated the buyer’s lists with solid support evident from the Australian based export operators. Merino Fleece saw the downward correction emerge after a solid opening in Sydney, where the first 45 minutes of selling was firm on last week. As the cheaper opening catalogue market data filtered through from Melbourne, Sydney’s prices followed Melbourne quotes down. The end result for the EMI on Tuesday measured -8c. Wednesday saw some MPG’s recover with the small Sydney offering a slightly dearer market for most MPG’s whilst Melbourne’s larger offering experienced an irregular market with the 17 MPG and finer continuing to fall away. Merino Skirtings followed the fleece quotes down, with best style and specified lots least affected. Wednesday saw another 10-20c price reduction with the heaviest falls experienced in the lots containing heavy colour and cotted wool. |
| Crossbreds continued to show solid signs with widespread competition evident over both selling days adding 5-10c. Merino Cardings saw Merino lambs, crutching’s and stains remain firm throughout the week whilst merino locks felt some pressure this week. Merino carbonising lambs (short with medium to heavy VM) felt downward price pressure in Melbourne on both days. ~Marty Moses |