Friday, March 29, 2024

Australia cuts forecast for annual wool production

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Australia has cut its forecast for annual wool production as dry weather conditions bite.
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The country’s greasy wool clip will probably decline 7% to 322 million kilograms in the 2015/16 season, according to a statement from the Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee. That’s down from its earlier estimate for 332 million kilograms.

The forecast decline for this season comes after six seasons of relatively stable wool production of between 340 and 350 million kilograms. It reflects an estimated 4.8% decline in sheep numbers to 73.3 million and a 2.3% fall in average fleece weights to 4.4 kilograms.

“Seasonal conditions in a number of the major sheep producing regions in Australia have been drier than expected over spring which has resulted in lower fleece weights and, more recently, reports of increased sheep turn-off,” the committee said in its 14-page report.

The committee estimates the wool clip will decline in all states this season, noting problems with getting enough water for stock.

New South Wales, which produces most of Australia’s wool, is expected to record a 7.1% drop in volume to 120.8 million kilograms, while Victoria’s clip is expected to decline 7.1% to 67.5 million kilograms, and Western Australia’s clip likely to fall 5% to 63.8 million kilograms.  

South Australia’s production is expected to fall 3.1% to 54.8 million kilograms, while Tasmania’s clip is seen falling 10% to 9.7 million with Queensland’s output likely to slump 39% to 5.6 million kilograms.

“The major sheep regions of Queensland continue to see very tough conditions and the sell-off of sheep continues in that state. In New South Wales, there are areas where seasonal conditions have been more difficult than expected.

“These tough conditions are only being partially offset by good to very good conditions in north-eastern South Australia and parts of New South Wales.”

The national committee bases its estimates on the advice from its six state committees, which include growers, brokers, private treaty merchants, and representatives from the state departments of agriculture and the Australian Wool Testing Authority.

It also draws data and input from the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX), wool exporters, the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES), the Australian Wool Testing Authority (AWTA) and Meat and Livestock Australia. 

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