WEEKLY MARKET REPORT

Week Ending 12^th October, 2018

AWEX Northern Micron Indices Comparison

MARKET ON THE UPWARD TREND, STORMS STILL PATCHY

The wool market did what everyone was hoping for after last Thursday’s solid finish to that series. Good gains over the 2 days had the AWEX EMI recapture almost a third of its losses from the previous 3 sales, up by 31 cents to sit back over the 2000 cent mark at 2023. The relative stability of the FRX saw the EMI in $US post a 20 cent gain to 1430. The biggest benefactors were the broader microns, > 19 up by 35 to 60 cents as finer microns were a touch cheaper bar the superior types that were quoted 50/60 dearer under renewed competition.

Skirtings also followed the lead from their fleece wool counterparts ascending by 20 to 30 cents with emphasis on < 5% VM. Cardings had a flat sale after LKS gave up 10/20 cents while STN added a similar amount. This halted the steep falls of the past 3 sales (178 cents) after setting a new record in early September. Crossbreds had an up and down series as < 26s lost 20 to 30 cents while broader types added up to 10 cents.

The market certainly benefitted from the lower $A v $US rate on Wednesday as the conversion rate was at its best for almost 3 years. The lift in the market a relief for growers as many thought the correction was in the wind for last sale. Exporters scrambled to cover off inventory as some of the larger top-makers and indent buyers have made the decision to ramp up their purchases to ensure supply for upcoming increased machinery demands. Focus is well and truly on a shortfall in supply and a major concern for all in the processing chain. We are already 64,500 bales (12%) behind last season’s volume offered with this figure to become larger. With this in mind the Aust. Wool Prod. Forecasting Committee will meet on 14^th November, 4 weeks earlier than was scheduled to give an updated report on how the numbers will be crunched re forecasted volumes post-Christmas something the Global Textile industry will be keeping a very close eye on.

All growers should have now received information for the Woolpoll 2018 vote. There are only 3 weeks left to vote either by reply paid mail, a toll free number (1800 211 736) or online at www.woolpoll.com.au AWI has been holding a series of info seminars to talk about marketing and research and the vote on the level of wool tax growers can vote on 1 of 5 options. Meetings at Dunedoo and Wellington saw about 30 growers at each - AWI stressed the importance of voting and how the reduced volume of wool sold will affect the amount of tax to be collected thus putting some projects at risk due to less wool tax revenue. Market should be stable with 37,000 bales on offer.        

                                     Ag Concepts Fwd Prices as at 12 October, 2018

                 Main Buyers (this week)

AUD/USD Currency Exchange

0.7070 ê 0.0010 compared with 5/10/2018