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AWI forecasts shorn wool production down in 2006/07

11 Jul '06

3 min read

Australian Wool Innovation Limited (AWI) announces that the Australian shorn wool production is forecast to remain relatively stable in the 2006/07 season compared with the 2005/06 season.

Shorn wool production in the eastern states is forecast to increase modestly, but this increase is expected to be counteracted by a decline in Western Australian (WA) wool production.

In the latest figures released today by the Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) Production Forecasting Committee, the forecast for Australian shorn wool production in the 2006/07 season is 456 million kilograms (mkg), 0.6 percent lower on the previous season. The new forecast is also 9 mkg lower than the committee's first forecast in March.

Committee Chairman Dr David James said the current forecast for the 2006/07 season was based on a situation almost the opposite to last season.

"In the 2005/06 season, Australian wool production was pushed in two opposing directions, largely by seasonal influences. Production increased significantly in the west, but wool production declined across the eastern seaboard," Dr James said.

"In the new season (2006/07), we face the opposite situation, with an overall but modest increase in wool production across eastern Australia, but a significant decline in WA production."

Dr James said any rebound in shorn wool production continues to be hampered by inconsistent rainfall patterns and the inability of the different major Australian wool growing areas to have an average or good season at the same time. Further, there has been no significant improvement in grower sentiment towards increasing flock numbers for wool production.

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