Better market tone following more interest from Chinese trading companies and Italian weavers.
FLEECE
Good to best 19.0 micron and finer 1% dearer.
All 19.5 / 21.5 micron generally unchanged.
18.0 micron and finer buyers favour.
18.5 micron and broader fully firm.
Unchanged
Market easier across all types
FLEECE
18.0 micron and finer 1 to 2% easier
18.5 micron and broader 2 to 3% easier
1 to 2% easier with light fault least affected.
1 to 2% easier
Market continues to ease.
South Island offering 10,500 bales and North Island offering 8,500 bales. South Island selection consisted of 35% crossbred fleece, good and average style, 10% crossbred shear good style bulk 75mm, 25% halfbred wool 24.0-29.0 micron super style, 10% merino super style, 15% associated oddments and 5% miscellaneous types. The North Island offering consisted of 80% crossbred second shear, good colour, bulk 75/100mm and 20% associated oddments. Limited competition with the market affected by general limited demand and constraints on shipping possibilities.
Crossbred fleece all descriptions buyers favour.
Halfbred fleece 24-29 micron generally 10% cheaper with high passed in rate.
Merino fleece 15-23 micron with better wools keenly sought after but generally 5% cheaper after a dear sale last week.
75/100mm and shorter 5% cheaper.
Crossbred all descriptions tending buyers favour.
30% passed in dominated by 24-30 micron.
South Island only offering 8,000 bales Thursday 7th October.
The lower Australian dollar and an improved fine wool offering were the key issues that influenced this week’s market. Interest from China is steady but cautious and this is the main underlying factor in the relatively stable market overall. However Italian interests competed strongly for quality superfine types this week. The clips with NM/CM status clearly preferred in general, obviously subject to quality first. Selected clips around 16.5/17.5 micron were up to 4% dearer. The ultrafine market is a little irregular around 14.5/15.0 micron due to the extreme prices that we’ve seen in recent weeks and the availability of these types is a little better at this time of the season.
AWEX Eastern Indicator compared with 17/09/2021
Eastern Indicator
Close: 1368
Change in % +1.18
If you want to learn more about AWEX indicators, visit the official website http://www.awex.com.au
Close: 3843
Change in %: -9.15
Close: 3158
Change in %: -0.78
17 Micron
Close: 2748
Change in %: +3.31
Close: 2280
Change in %: +2.47
Close: 1844
Change in %: +2.05
Close: 2708
Change in %: +0.07
Chinese activity finished the week strongly but again demand seems limited to the few large companies. It should be enough, along with continued interest from Europe to maintain an upward trend next week.
North S 12 11112 9977 10.2%
South M 12 18304 16800 8.2%
West F 12 4611 4195 9.0%
North S 13 W / T 11461
South M 13 W / T 22552
West F 13 W / T 7549
If you want to see the complete Wool Sales Roster click here.
Good overall market. Fine wool tending dearer.
FLEECE
18.5 micron and finer 1% dearer
19.0 / 21.0 micron opened a little easier but closed fully firm, tending slightly upwards.
Fully firm
Unchanged
Market a little dearer.
FLEECE
16.5 micron 2% dearer
All others 1% dearer with FNF (VM1.0 and less) most affected.
All good descriptions fully firm.
Nominally 1% dearer.
On 07-09 September 2021, the Schneider Group organised its second edition of the Wool Connect Online Grower Conference. Each day consisted of 2-hour sessions filled with presentations and discussions on current topics of concern. 439 participants from 36 different countries registered for the event, Australians being the largest group. The majority of participants were wool growers, followed by industry and brokers. Each day around 180 people attended the sessions live via Zoom actively taking part by posing questions for the speakers and commenting in the chat. Those participants who could not attend the event live, have the possibility to watch the recorded presentations on demand in English and Spanish via the Wool Connect member community.
A total of 27 speakers spoke live at the event including a recorded message from His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales as the patron of the Campaign for Wool.
The conference was opened by Elena Schneider, Board Member of the Schneider Group. She talked about her passion for food and stated: ‘Like there is a slow food movement in contrast to fast food, there also needs to be a slow fashion movement working against the extensive fast fashion industry, as the way we consume makes the difference. The aim should be to increase the consumption of wool and other natural fibres against synthetic fibres, which causes microplastic pollution. We need to ensure a better future for all of us’. She concluded with the words: ‘I strongly believe, there is only one way of solving the problems like economic and environmental issues or COVID-19 by working together, connecting with each other, acting together and thinking as a community. As part of the Schneider Group’s Together 2030 sustainability strategy, we want to promote pre-competitive cooperation between all stakeholders of the wool industry. Through Wool Connect we want to connect people with people but also people with the planet’. Elena Schneider’s opening statement was supported by a short video of the ‘Hummingbird Story’ which developed into a common thread throughout the conference.
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The topic of day 1 discussed the international context and progress for the wool industry. Speakers presented the overarching international strategies in regard to climate change and the circular economy that influence the fashion and textile industry. CEO of Textile Exchange, La Rhea Pepper, spoke about the organisation’s Climate+ strategy, to which many brands and retailers have committed themselves. Angus Ireland from the Australian Wool Innovation talked about the ongoing lobby work of the wool industry towards the European Union’s Product Environmental Footprint work. Matteo Mantellassi, CEO of wool recycling company Manteco highlighted wool’s benefits for a circular economy.
On Day 2, speakers focused on Animal Welfare as a continuation of the discussions from last year’s Wool Connect conference. Many speakers were repeats from last year, showcasing the progress made over the past year based on the issues identified previously. This included Paul Swan from SustainaWOOL and Deon Saayman from Cape Wools South Africa who both announced collaboration agreements between various wool integrity schemes including Authentico.
Furthermore, spinning company Südwolle Group, weaver Marzotto Wool Manufacturing and retail brand Hugo Boss reported on the current market, noticeable changes in consumer behaviour, and the increasing demand for certified non-mulesed wool.
On the third and final day of the event, industry experts discussed regenerative agriculture, a topic of interest that came up several times during the previous two days as well. While animal welfare and non-mulesed wool is still an important topic, the manufacturing and retail industry is shifting its focus to lowering its carbon footprint through regenerative agriculture, carbon credits, and natural capital accounting. TWIST editor Jonathan Dyson provided a good overview and analysis of the activities within the industry on this topic. Further industry representatives then showcased their work in this field.
CEO of the Schneider Group Giovanni Schneider summarised the event with the words that ‘Wool Connect discussed all the major topics around the industry right now. It was nice to see, that animal welfare is no longer the elephant in the room. It is reassuring to hear and see Growers who are not shying away from talking about their efforts on animal welfare. The new challenge is about sustainability and that is what we need to focus on going forward’.
Wool Connect initiator and Chief Sustainability Officer Willy Gallia emphasized the importance of continued dialogue and collaboration along the entire supply chain to work towards the goal of increasing wool’s market share while also providing solutions to the planet’s urgent issues such as biodiversity loss and climate change.
Despite the live event being over, the conversation continues on the Wool Connect member platform, where community members can join Groups and Forums on topics of concern. One example is the RWS Group where representatives of Textile Exchange will be available to answer member questions around the Responsible Wool Standard.
In addition, the platform is also available as an Android app, which makes it easier to access content and connect while on the move. An Apple app will be launched shortly as well. The app is available for download in the google play store here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gschneider.woolconnect
Giovanni Schneider announced that a third live online conference of Wool Connect will be held in the autumn of 2022, the 100th year anniversary of the Schneider Group. Wool Connect is an important pillar of the company’s Together 2030 sustainability strategy and therefore a vital platform to contribute to the Science Based Targets set by the Schneider Group.
Anyone is welcome to sign up to Wool Connect and watch all presentations and Q&A Sessions on demand. Just visit the Wool Connect website: https://woolconnect.gschneider.com/
In a week where we thought the market was going to struggle it finished the week in positive territory with a couple of interesting highlights. FNF wool throughout the micron categories continues to bring small incentives in prices when compared to VM2% and above which are generally discounted. RWS NM/CM wool is still in keen demand with incentives increasing to around 10/15% above the spot market which is becoming the expectation of many growers. China is still evaluating the market and remains nervous about local processing and increased sea freight costs and export textile charges into Europe and USA. Europe is quietly optimistic for an improvement in weaving types and currently experiencing good demand for processed and knitting types which should see the market with a positive attitude to the final quarter of 2021. Fine market indicators continue to increase despite the 15 micron which faltered this week, however demand remains strong.
AWEX Eastern Indicator compared with 03/09/2021
Eastern Indicator
Close: 1352
Change in % -0.70
If you want to learn more about AWEX indicators, visit the official website http://www.awex.com.au
Close: 4230
Change in %: -5.7
Close: 3183
Change in %: 0.00
17 Micron
Close: 2660
Change in %: +2.97
Close: 2225
Change in %: +1.20
Close: 1807
Change in %: +0.80
Close: 2706
Change in %: +0.30
The market seems to be on the edge of more positive times with a relatively empty pipeline for greasy wool. We are seeing more enquiry across a wide range of types and destinations as demand for responsibly sourced wool is on the increase and volumes remain relatively small when compared to the total national supply.
North S 11 9989 8644 13.5%
South M 11 17417 15344 12.0%
West F 11 5419 4661 14.0%
North S 12 T / W
South M 12 T / W
West F 12 T / W
If you want to see the complete Wool Sales Roster click here.
Better tone to finish the week in positive territory.
FLEECE
16.0/21.5 micron FNF finished the day par to 1% dearer, VM 2% firm.
All other descriptions irregular.
Best FNF firm.
B/C Fault par to 1% easier.
Unchanged all descriptions.
Fleece 10-15 cents cheaper, skirtings 10 cents cheaper, open tops unchanged.
FLEECES.
The fleece market was mixed today, with 17.5u and finer closing 15-20 cents dearer, while broader microns and poorer style fleece were around 20-30 cents cheaper.
The passed-in rate for fleece was at 23.1%.
Skirtings were 10 cents cheaper.
Open tops were generally unchanged on very limited volume.
The Schneider Group
The Schneider Group
The Schneider Group
The Schneider Group