Week 08 - August 2026

AWEX EMI 1812 -61

Micron 17 2472 -70

Micron 18 2391 -64

Micron 19 2221 -48

Micron 20 2053 -78

Micron 21 1988 -109

Micron 25 1200 -

Micron 26 1060 -30

Micron 28 790 -

Micron 30 710 -

Micron 32 597 -

MCar 1056 -82

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Week 8

Eastern Market Indicator (EMI)

Microns

AWEX Auction Micron Price Guides

Sales held Tue 18th Aug & Wed 19th Aug 2026

Offering (Aust. Only)

Sales Week 8: 21st August 2026

Currency Movements

Sales Week 8: 21st August 2026

Forecast

Scheduled Australian Wool Auction Sales

AWI Commentary

Australian wool auctions returned this week following the annual three-week recess, with the market opening sharply lower before stabilising to some degree on the second day. A total of 37,702 bales were offered nationally, with 31,541 sold and 16.3% passed in. The Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) fell 61 cents, or 3.3%, to close at 1,812 A¢/kg. In US dollar terms, the EMI lost 28 cents to 1,281 US¢/kg, a fall of 2.3%.

Currency fluctuations added an additional headwind that amplified an already uncertain market, with the Australian dollar strengthening during the week, rising to 70.7 US cents.

Most of the damage occurred on Tuesday, when the EMI fell 51 cents – its largest daily decline since October 2020 – before easing a further 10 cents on Wednesday.

Merino fleece bore the brunt of the correction. On the opening day, Merino Micron Price Guides (MPGs) fell by between 16 and 107 cents, with further mixed movements on Wednesday ranging from 6 cents dearer to 56 cents cheaper. Weekly losses were substantial across both fine and medium Merinos, including falls of more than 100 cents for some 21-micron indicators. Seller resistance increased accordingly, particularly in Fremantle, where 29.6% of the total offering and 37.9% of Merino fleece was passed in. Crossbreds were comparatively resilient, with the 28-micron MPG unchanged in Melbourne and just 12 cents lower in Sydney.

The magnitude of the opening correction was broadly in line with pre-sale expectations, following subdued new exporter business and the market’s sharp rise over the preceding year. Despite this week’s fall, the EMI remains 565 cents, or 45.3%, above its level a year ago.

Next week’s national offering is forecast at 31,095 bales across Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle – an 18 percent drop from this week’s offering.