Business & Rural
17 March, 2026
WOOL REPORT: market performs 'admirably' with overall rise
The sales resumed after holding a one-week recess for Chinese New Year. Wool accumulated over the recess resulted in a national offering of 50,701 bales, this was the largest national offering since January 2023.
THE Australian wool market performed admirably last week, recording an overall rise whilst dealing with a larger than normal offering.
The sales resumed after holding a one-week recess for Chinese New Year. Wool accumulated over the recess resulted in a national offering of 50,701 bales, this was the largest national offering since January 2023.
Many industry observers were predicting a cheaper market, these predictions based on the national quantity and sales made during the recess.
As is often the case the wool market defied expectations, recording overall increases across all three selling days. On the opening day, the benchmark Eastern market indicator (EMI) rose by 4 cents, with only marginal rises apparent.
On the second day the gains were more significant, resulting in a 12 cent increase in the EMI. On the final day only Melbourne was in operation, as they required three selling days, the first three-day sale in Melbourne since April 2024. The EMI added a further 7 cents. This pushed the daily run of EMI increases to eight.
The EMI has now only fallen on one selling day in 2026, January 28, when it fell 27 cents, but worth noting, on this day it gained 27 US cents.
The EMI opened the year at 1,541 cents, with the rises of this series the EMI finished the week at 1,716 cents, meaning the EMI has added 175 cents this so far this calendar year, an increase of 11.4%.
The clearance rate was again high last week, showing most sellers willing to meet the market, just 4.1% of the national offering was passed in.
The strongest performing sector of the series was the cardings.
Strong demand on locks, stains and crutchings resulted in large gains. This was reflected in the three Merino Carding Indicators (MC) which rose by an average of 70 cents across the three centres.
Glendon Hancock
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