August's wool market update

Highlights for wool

• The Australian wool market started the 2025/26 season with price rises in the first four consecutive selling weeks, with the AWEX EMI rising 32 cents since the end of last season, moving into the three-week recess at 1,239 c/kg. This is 115 cents higher compared to the same time last year and the highest it has been since week 41 of season 2024/25. This was when the market dropped 30 cents following the initial announcement of the Trump Administration's tariff plans.
• Over the first four weeks of the season, the EMI in USc has also increased 30 US cents to sit at 814 USc/kg, a high not seen since January of 2024. During the 2024/25 season, currency movements played a significant role in movements of the AWEX EMI, however the first four weeks of the 2025/26 season have showed a slight disconnect between the AUD/USD exchange rate and the EMI. That currency changes are not the driving factor in price movements now indicates a base level of demand that is creating a price floor. The opening week of the season had the lowest offerings since our records began in 1995. The following weeks continued the trend of low offerings before there was a 60 per cent jump in bales offered for the final week before the recess. This was somewhat of a test for the strength of demand that the market appears to have passed.

Source: Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX)

Claire Adams

Agricultural Analyst

Claire is our Insights specialist for the wool industry. She combines her experience through government, industry and agriculture alongside a Masters in Global Food & Agricultural Business and a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Hons).