National Wool Declaration
All woolgrowers are being urged to complete the National Wool Declaration (NWD), as wool sold as Not Declared usually receives a discount. The NWD provides transparency to buyers and the whole supply chain and helps woolgrowers earn premiums and avoid discounts for their wool.
The National Wool Declaration (NWD) is a simple way for woolgrowers to tell the market more about the wool they produce. By completing an NWD, growers provide information that buyers can’t determine from testing alone – such as mulesing status and other management details – helping the wool move through the supply chain with fewer questions and more certainty.
When AWI engages with brands and retailers, one message comes through consistently: they want to see stronger participation in the NWD. Clear declarations give buyers confidence, support transparency across the supply chain and ensure growers receive clearer market signals about demand and pricing preferences.
Filling out an NWD is voluntary and once lodged, the information automatically flows into sale catalogues and wool test certificates. This means buyers have the details they need at the point of sale, without any extra steps for growers.
All woolgrowers are encouraged to complete an NWD, regardless of breed, wool type or management system. Taking part helps protect market access for Australian wool and ensures growers remain well positioned as customer expectations continue to evolve.
Seasonal Trends in NWD Rates
The table highlights a continued shift toward greater use of the National Wool Declaration (NWD), with declaration rates improving across both Merino and Non-Merino wool in the 2025–26 season to date.
The data shows a continuing shift away from mulesed and undeclared wool toward non-mulesed declarations, particularly in the non-Merino clip.
For Merino wool, the non-mulesed share increased from 15.3% in 2023–24 to 18.2% in 2025–26 YTD. Ceased-mulesing declarations also rose to 3.6%, while the proportion declared as mulesed fell from 9.1% to 6.5%. The share with no mulesing declaration declined from 21.2% to 17.4%. AA remained the largest category, increasing from 50.9% to 54.2%.
The shift was stronger in non-Merino wool. Non-mulesed wool increased from 45.6% in 2023–24 to 54.2% in 2025–26 YTD, meaning it now accounts for more than half of the non-Merino clip. At the same time, wool with no declaration fell sharply from 37.3% to 29.2%. The mulesed share also declined slightly, from 3.4% to 2.6%.
Testing volumes continued to contract.
Merino volumes fell from 1.013 million in 2024–25 to 938,247 in 2025–26 YTD, a decline of about 7.4%. Non-Merino volumes decreased from 250,241 to 233,235, down approximately 6.8%. Compared with 2023–24, total volumes are around 20% lower for Merino wool and 22% lower for non-Merino wool.
The figures suggest that supply-chain declarations are becoming more complete and that non-mulesed wool is gaining share, even as the total volume of wool tested continues to decline.
State Trends in NWD Declaration Rates by Season
Declaration rates increased across most states between 2023–24 and 2025–26, indicating a broader improvement in the proportion of wool offered with a recorded mulesing status.
Queensland recorded the highest declared share in 2025–26 at 85.7%, closely followed by New South Wales at 85.3%. Tasmania and Queensland also remained high, at 87.2% and 87.7% respectively, although Queensland was broadly unchanged from the previous season. Victoria improved from 78.2% in 2023/24 to 82.5% in 2025–26.
Western Australia continued to record a substantially lower declaration rate than the other states. While its declared share improved from 55.1% in 2024–25 to 60.2% in 2025–26, almost 40% of wool remained undeclared. This compares with undeclared shares of between 12.3% and 17.5% across the eastern and southern states.
The largest improvement over the three seasons occurred in New South Wales, where the declared share rose by 6.1 percentage points, followed by South Australia with a 5.1-point increase. The data suggests declaration coverage is strengthening nationally, but the gap between Western Australia and the other states remains significant.
Premiums
Premiums for wool declared as non-mulesed (NM) and ceased-mulesed (CM) increased substantially in 2025–26, particularly across the key 18–20 micron range. NM premiums reached 70 cents/kg clean at 18 micron, 60 cents at 19 micron and 52 cents at 20 micron, compared with 9, 8 and 5 cents respectively in 2024–25. NM premiums also remained strong at broader microns, including 40 cents at both 21 and 23 micron, 45 cents at 25 micron and 75 cents at 30 micron.
CM wool followed the same pattern, although premiums were consistently below NM levels. In 2025–26, CM premiums averaged 52 cents at 18 micron, 45 cents at 19 micron and 33 cents at 20 micron. Premiums of 23 to 30 cents were also recorded across 21–25 micron, with 50 cents at 30 micron.
AA wool attracted little additional value in 2025–26, with available premiums of only 1–2 cents across 18–20 micron. The results show a clear price distinction between NM, CM and AA declarations, with NM attracting the strongest premiums across the available micron categories.
Don’t let your Declaration be wasted!
If you don’t sign and date your NWD, the Mulesing Status of your mobs or lines of wool will not be shown on the sale catalogue and test certificate. This can reduce the number of buyers bidding on your wool, as well as the price you receive.
To ensure the Mulesing Status of your wool is known by potential buyers prior to sale, sign and date the NWD.
It is good practice for owner-managers to talk to the wool classer at the start of shearing to detail all mobs and to sign and date the declaration. Note, eSpecis can be electronically signed.
For further advice on achieving premiums for your wool, contact your wool broker.
This article appeared in Issue 106 of AWI’s Beyond the Bale magazine that was published in September 2026. Reproduction of the article is encouraged and should be attributed as follows: This article was first published in Issue 106 of AWI’s Beyond the Bale magazine.
