Call for nominations for Australian wool industry medal
It’s now time to consider nominating a worthy recipient for the 2022 Australian Wool Industry Medal.
Sheep
Wool, lamb, and Merino genetics, covering what's shaping Australia's sheep industry.
Locals jostle with Chinese and Italian buyers for Merino fleeces
The AWEX EMI closed on 1408c – down 5c at auction sales in Australia last week with 88.1% of the 47,251 bale offering cleared to the trade as the Australian Based exporters jostled with the Chinese and Italian Indent buyers and large early stage processors to complete their immediate commitments.
Shipping logistics, war and foreign currency exchange rates impacting wool market
The offering of 49,431 bales coupled with the sharp rise in the foreign currency exchange rates; the economic impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war; the delayed dumping and shipping logistics; exporter financial restrictions; have all had negative overtones for this week’s market expectations.
Heavy lamb slaughter lifts 11 per cent this month
Lambs are now flowing on to the market, lifting 2022 weekly lamb slaughter volumes above 2021 and 2020 levels for the first time this year.
Composite lambs set the trend with price gains of $106
Composite/other breed lambs accounted for 5% of the offering this week, with 5,350 head and the category registered the largest price gains – up $106, to average $279/head.
Merino fleece under 17 micron and Merino skirtings keenly sought
The AWEX EMI closed the week on 1407c – down 14c at auction sales in Australia last week with the 50,120 bale offering added undue pressure which was articulated in the reduced clearance of 87.8%.
Merino ewe lamb prices and clearance rates up on back of demand
Merino ewe lamb numbers held firm on last week, with a total of 2,181 head and prices for the category increased $26 to average $289/head, with high demand pushing clearance rates to 90%.
Well specified ultra-fine skirts attract keen competition at auction
Merino Skirtings opened parallel to their fleece counterparts. Ultra-Fine skirts that were well specified attracted keen competition, whilst the rest drifted from last week’s levels, closing slightly cheaper. Wednesday experienced a reversal of this trend, closing with some lots adding 25c for the day.
Anthrax detected in sheep near Swan Hill
Agriculture Victoria veterinarians and animal health staff are responding to the detection of anthrax in a small number of sheep on a property near Swan Hill.
Shedding breed lambs highest clearance and average $345/head
Shedding breed lambs had a total offering of 8,146 head last week, which returned the highest clearance rate among the lamb categories, at 84%. Prices for the category averaged $345/head – up $71.
Locally based exporters enter wool market with renewed vigour
Merino fleece and skirtings were dominated by China, whilst the XB sector was heavily weighted towards a substantial European manufacturer. Australia’s largest wool trading companies returned to inventory accumulation last week.
Australian record at Hamilton with 59,000 sheep scanned in a single day
Victorian producers, staff and agents at the Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange created an Australian record – with 59,487 electronic National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) tags scanned on sheep sold at the sale on 15 December 2021.
