Data has shown that in the third quarter of the 2006/07 season, supplies of medium merino wool offered at auction shrunk significantly compared with 12 months previous.
This is expected to be a sign of things to come over the next few months, as fresh wool production for medium merino wool falls sharply from the drought, and lower levels of on and off-farm stocks reduce the capacity for growers to increase offerings from stocks.
While total Australian auction offerings in the quarter declined moderately year-on-year, offerings in the 20, 21 & 22 micron categories all fell sharply. This appears to be a progressively worsening trend through the season, as supplies of medium merino wool shrink.
This trend has been in contrast to Australian fine wool auction offerings (<19.5 micron), with the quarterly growth in offerings increasing as the season progresses.
Australian Wool Innovation Limited