Market Intelligence
Weekly Wool Market Commentary
Moses & Son is committed to providing our valued customers the most current information and data to empower your decision-making process. Discover our latest Australian wool market weekly update below, along with archived reports for your perusal and analysis.
2026-S02
The AWEX EMI closed the week on 1909c, up 5c at auction sales in Australia this week. 28,960 bales were offered in Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle, with a 94.3% clearance. Signals showed new business being negotiated after the downward correction experienced in the 2-weeks leading into this week’s sales. In USD terms the EMI increased 13 Usc, as the AUD strengthened about ½ a cent throughout the week.
Sales opened with Tuesday’s market revealing a clear price increase on the majority of standard merino types, whilst the crossbreds were met with some price resistance. With Sydney and Melbourne’s national weekly offering starting to indicate a rapid reduction in wools that have been stored on farm, or in brokers warehouses for extended periods, the quantities for the upcoming selling season will remain pivotal to this wool market’s apparent strength, whilst the downstream pipeline awaits new retail signals.
Merino Fleece
Merino Fleece showed that despite the MPG’s it remains somewhat unconvincing of a clear market direction, the tone in the room performed a complete 180-degree turnaround for this weeks’ offering. With Some MPGs indicating a slight loss, but the general trend was mostly positive. The bidding in the rooms towards the back half of Wednesday also indicated renewed urgency to purchase from the large Australian Based Trading Exporters, who have been reluctant to sell the merino market down. The indent operators found it slightly harder to secure this week, however most exporters are showing more restraint in the sale rooms than previously seen, possibly due to the lack of clear market signals from our largest export destination China.
Merino Skirtings
Merino Skirtings opened where they left off last week and were generally firm in all centres on both days. The best prepared low VM skirtings continued to attract spirited bidding and price premiums, with the slightly heavier VM types, and lots coarser than 19µ were somewhat irregular.
Merino Cardings
Merino Cardings delivered a mixed bag of results this week with Sydney quotes indicating no change, Melbourne -11c and Fremantle -16c. Sydney was quoted fully firm on Tuesday and slightly dearer for the best bulk and colour oddments.
Crossbred Fleece
Crossbred Oddments
Crossbreds
Crossbreds met their waterloo this week with further price apprehension, and in contrast to the merino fleece market, it eased by an average of 20 to 25 cents. The pressure was concentrated in the finer crossbred fleece types, particularly 28µ and finer, while broader microns were comparatively firm. This marks a reversal of recent trends, where crossbreds had provided support to the broader market.
Next Week
Next weeks national offering drops back to 21,646 bales with Fremantle sitting out of the second last sale before the mid-year 3-week recess. The early market intel should see a fully firm merino market with further caution evident on the crossbred and carding sectors. ~Marty Moses
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Market Commentary
Whilst the end of the selling season for the wool producers and wool brokers approaches, we must appreciate that for the trading exporters it is the start of their new financial year. I cannot see to many traders taking excessive risk this early in the season as far as increasing their stock position before the break.
Despite South Africa having entered into their recess period, the CIS premiums remain relatively ordinary. Lots offered this week in certified integrity schemes (NM) attracted premiums averaging 2.4% to 3.6% on average. The largest premiums seemed to correlate on the better styled lots with good specifications, with or without NM CIS status.
News from IWTO:
During the Congress, AWEX and AWTA jointly presented on Australia’s sustainability and traceability ecosystem, showcasing how the AWSS and AWTH work together alongside existing industry systems to strengthen integrity while reducing cost in the wool supply chain.
The presentation generated strong interest from international delegates seeking practical, scalable approaches to sustainability, assurance and traceability. AWEX also met with representatives from the Nanjing Wool Market, who expressed strong interest in promoting AWSS throughout the Chinese wool industry and exploring opportunities to work together to increase awareness among processors and downstream brands. Meetings were also held with the China Wool Textile Association (CWTA) to explore closer collaboration on wool traceability and certification initiatives, with further discussions planned over coming months.