Wool Market Rebounds as Eastern Indicator Rises
Merino prices strengthened across all micron categories in Week 20 sales held 11-12 November 2026, ending four weeks of declines.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Economic Indicators
The Australian wool market rebounded in Week 20 sales held 11-12 November 2026, ending four consecutive weeks of declines. The Eastern Market Indicator rose 24 cents to 1,722 Australian cents per kg.
Why it matters
Stronger buyer competition and a weaker Australian dollar supported local prices, with Chinese processors particularly active. The result offers growers a signal of renewed demand after a period of softer prices.
Weekly auction results recorded 25,216 of 27,077 bales sold, a 6.9 per cent pass-in rate, and season-to-date offerings 13 per cent below last season. The Eastern Market Indicator rose 24 cents to 1,722 Australian cents per kg, though it fell seven cents to 1,184 US cents per kg, and the source does not explain how the currency movement will shape future weeks.
The details
Merino prices rose across all selling centres, with good-style, well-measured wool attracting the strongest competition. Better-style wool with low mid-break and low-CVH descriptions attracted significant premiums, and the 24-cent rise was the largest daily increase since early September.
Timeline
11-12 November 2026: Week 20 wool sales held.
Week 21: About 30,500 bales forecast to be offered.
Economic Indicators
The Eastern Market Indicator's US-dollar level is 24.5 per cent above the corresponding sale last season, signalling that the week's recovery builds on a stronger year-on-year base rather than marking a fresh peak. This positions the result within a broader pattern of wool prices tracking global textile demand through the Chinese processing sector.
Woolgrowers receiving a stronger Eastern Market Indicator may see improved returns on their clip, though the 1,184 US cents per kg figure shows the currency effect is significant. Buyers and exporters tracking Australian-dollar pricing will need to weigh the weaker dollar when planning purchases.
The takeaway
Watch the Eastern Market Indicator in both Australian and US-dollar terms, as currency movements can change how a price rise is experienced. Growers and buyers should track the pass-in rate alongside price, since it signals how much of the offered clip is finding buyers.
What happens next
About 30,500 bales are forecast to be offered in Week 21 of the wool auction series.
Further reading
Track more movements in the Economic Indicators section for context on commodity pricing trends.
