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.
2025-S22
The AWEX EMI closed the week at 1504c, easing 10c at Australian wool auctions. The initial roster of just over 40,000 bales was viewed by exporters as a clear signal that last week’s price levels were unlikely to be maintained. The offering ultimately settled at 39,161 bales, with a 90.4% clearance to the trade. Most market segments opened softer on Tuesday, pushing the EMI down 9c. Wednesday saw improved buyer confidence at the reduced-price levels, and the EMI finished the day 1c lower.
Merino Fleece
Market performance varied significantly by selling centre, driven largely by the quality of the offering. Sydney conducted its final Super fine sale for the 2025 season, with 16–17µ superior style and well-specified lots achieving premiums of 100–200c over standard types. This pushed the related MPG’s up by 10c. Across the broader fleece market, most other types softened 5–50c, effectively giving back around half of last week’s gains. Premiums for NM wool in Certified Integrity Schemes strengthened, with one Moses & Son client topping prices across most of their Merino categories.
Merino Skirtings
A similar pattern was seen in skirtings. Superfine, well-prepared, and low VM types sold up to 50c dearer, while the remainder of the well-prepared lots held firm. On Wednesday, average and better skirtings eased slightly, although the superior superfine lines continued to attract strong premiums.
Merino Cardings
Cardings were solid to slightly dearer. Reports suggest increasing inquiry across several carding types, but no buyer has yet been prepared to lift the price base. Cardings continue to act as the traditional “canary in the mine” for market direction so their sideways trajectory is probably a good indicator of prices for combing wool in the month to come.
Crossbred Fleece
Crossbred Oddments
Crossbreds
Crossbred fleece MPGs were marginally easier overall. There was little interest below 28µ, and high CVD (wider variance % in Fibre Diameter) continues to be the main determinant of sale ability.
Next Week
Next week’s national offering falls to 37,581 bales. Fremantle sells on Tuesday, while Sydney and Melbourne offer on Tuesday and Wednesday. As we move into December there are only 3 sale weeks remaining before the 3-week Xmas recess
~Marty Moses
Market Commentary
The EMI is trading 360c (+31.5%) higher than the same time last year, reflecting tighter supplies of suitable types for mainstream Chinese early-stage processing.
The year-on-year MPG improvements illustrate the broader end of the Merino and crossbred spectrum is driving this strength:
17µMPG: +24%
19µMPG: +32%
20µMPG: +34%
30µMPG: +58%
Demand at retail has remained subdued over the past three months, though some green shoots are emerging. A recovery in the fine wool segment will be needed by 2026, though whether it eventuates remains unclear.
Forward contracts have re-emerged over the past month and were again traded this week at reasonable levels. While normally a positive indicator, the underlying health of the forward market still depends heavily on who is buying and who is offering volume.