Forecast Report 2015 April
Forecast Report 2015 April
The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee (AWPFC) has set its forecast
production for the 2014/15 season at 341 million kilograms greasy for the 2014/15 season,
the same as the estimate for the 2013/14 season. The Committees first projection for
2015/16 has been set at 332 mkg, down by 2.7%.
There is expected to be a 2.8% reduction in the number of sheep shorn in the 2014/15
season. This decline is less than the 5.2% fall in the opening sheep numbers according to
the Australian Bureau of Statistics preliminary estimates released in January 2015.
The fall in sheep shorn numbers in 2014/15 will be offset by an increase in average fleece
weights across Australia due to good production conditions in several regions, including
southern New South Wales, northern South Australia and regions in Victoria. Nationally,
average fleece weights are expected to increase by 2.9% due to better than expected
fleece weights in these regions. Table 1 summarises the estimates and forecasts.
Table 1:
2014/15
Fourth
forecast
Change
y-o-y
(%)
2015/16
Initial
Projection
Change
y-o-y
(%)
75.5
71.6
-5.2%
69.1
-3.5%
78.0
75.8
-2.8%
73.7
-2.9%
4.37
4.49
2.9%
4.50
0.2%
341
341
0.0%
332
-2.7%
Parameter
FURTHER INFORMATION
Mr Russell Pattinson, National Committee Chairman
Tel: +61 0419 872 684
Australian Wool Innovation Limited April 2015.
This document may be reproduced and disseminated with attribution
to Australian Wool Innovation Limited (ABN 12 095 165 558).
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April 2015
Regionally, the Committee forecasts that wool production in 2014/15, compared with
2013/14, will fall the most in Queensland (-24.9%) and Western Australia (-7.4%), while
production in Tasmania will remain steady. Wool production in New South Wales, Victoria
and South Australia is expected to increase by 2.2%, 1.9% and 7.9% respectively. Table
2 shows the current forecasts by state for 2014/15 in comparison to the 2013/14 estimate.
Table 2:
QLD
NSW
VIC
TAS
SA
WA
National
10.8
125.3
70.5
10.2
52.0
71.8
341
8.1
128.1
71.9
10.2
56.1
66.4
341
-24.8%
2.2%
1.9%
0.0%
7.9%
-7.4%
0.0%
The Committee noted that the AWTA wool test data for 2014/15 shows a reduction in
volumes of wool of 17.5 microns and finer, and an increase in 18-19 micron, 22-23 micron
and broad wool (27 microns and broader), in the first nine months of the season. This has
resulted in a 0.2 micron increase in the mean fibre diameter for Australia so far this season.
More detailed information on shorn wool production by state and by micron can be found in
the Appendix to this report.
ABS data
Table 3 summarises the Australian Bureau of Statistics flock data for the period 2010 to 2014.
The ABS preliminary estimate for the number of sheep as at 30th June 2014 (i.e. the opening
number of sheep for the 2014/15 season) was released on 21st January 2015. This preliminary
estimate shows sheep numbers at 71.6 million head for Australia. The ABS will release its
final estimate of sheep numbers as at 30th June 2014 on 29th May 2015. This release will
include data on the number of ewes mated and the lamb marking % in 2013/14.
2|Page
April 2015
th
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
June)*:
68.1
73.1
74.7
75.5
71.6
-5%
th
42.3
41.8
44.9
40.3
40.1
-1%
31.9
33.3
35.4
31.0
30.7
-1%
na
37.4
39.6
34.9
na
na
na
89%
89%
89%
na
na
June)*:
Lambs marked:
Ewes mated:
Marking %
2012/13 2013/14(p)
st
*Used by AWPFC as sheep number at 1 July, opening day of following season. (p) preliminary estimate.
Australian sheep turn-off statistics for the July 2014 to January 2015 period, sourced from the
ABS, are shown in Table 4. This turnoff data covers sheep slaughter, lamb slaughter and live
exports and is compared the equivalent period in 2013/14 and the five year average 2010/11
to 2014/15.
Table 4:
Sheep slaughter
('000 hd)
Sheep weights
(kg/hd cwt)
Mutton production
(tonnes cwt)
Lamb slaughter
('000 hd)
Lamb weights
(kg/hd cwt)
Lamb production
(tonnes cwt)
Live exports
('000 hd)
5-yr FY
%
Avg
5,939
5,740
-3%
4,319
33%
23.2
24.3
5%
23.4
4%
137,978
139,615
1%
100,943
38%
13,013
13,272
2%
11,693
13%
21.4
21.9
2%
21.5
2%
278,745
290,025
4%
251,231
15%
1,113,654
1,240,701
11%
1,270,176
-2%
The ABS data shows a small year on year decline in the number of sheep slaughtered (-3%)
but an equally modest increase in the number of lambs slaughtered (+2%) in the first seven
months of the 2014/15 season. However, when compared with the longer term (5 year)
average, both the number of adult sheep slaughtered (+33%) and the number of lambs
slaughtered (+13%) were up substantially for this season to date. There was an increase in
live exports year on year (+11%) in the July to January period of 2014/15, but the number
exported is only slightly down (-2%) on the longer term average.
AWTA wool test data (Financial year to end March 2014)
AWTA generates monthly greasy wool test data volumes within the various diameter
categories. Comparative financial year to-date results are shown in Table 5, and Figures 1
and 2 (overleaf), based on this report. A historical comparison of the Australian micron profile
percentage share and average micron can be found in Table 4 in the Appendix to this report.
3|Page
Parameter
AWTA key test data volumes (WSA) for the financial year to March
Year
DIAMETER (MICRON)
<16.6
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
AWTA Key Test Data 2012/13 6,994 18,961 37,011 49,630 48,759 35,536 21,767 11,982 6,833
2013/14 10,825 22,719 39,445 49,866 45,601 30,728 17,115 9,346 6,059
FY Total
greasy tonnes
2014/15 8,599 21,799 41,089 51,660 44,616 30,219 18,135 9,679 5,460
YTD - YOY%
April 2015
2014/15 -21%
-4%
4%
4%
-2%
-2%
6%
4%
-10%
-14%
5%
29%
35%
AWTA data for wool test volumes presented in Tables 5 and 6 and Figures 1 and 2 indicate
that:
-
Volumes of wool tested for 2014/15 to end March were 1.1% higher than for the same
period in 2013/14;
There was a reduction in wool tested of 17.5 microns and finer and in the 20-21 micron
categories in the first nine months of the season;
There were significant increases in the broad end of the clip (greater than 28.6 micron),
which was a recovery from the sharp decline in 2013/14;
There were gains in the 18 19 micron and 22 23 micron categories;
The volumes of wool tested (on a wool statistical area basis) in the first nine months of
the 2014/15 season were higher than year earlier levels in South Australia, Victoria,
Tasmania and New South Wales. It was lower in Queensland and Western Australia.
Figure 1:
4|Page
1.1%
Table 6:
April 2015
AWTA Wool Statistics Area test data volumes (WSA) for the financial year to
March
Year
NSW
Vic
WA
SA
Tas
Qld
Australia
2012/13
99,937
70,063
58,896
40,101
8,624
11,482
289,243
2013/14
97,734
65,004
61,341
38,393
8,387
8,813
279,767
2014/15
101,996
66,877
56,301
41,838
8,545
7,182
282,810
4.4%
2.9%
-8.2%
9.0%
1.9%
-18.5%
1.1%
% change y-o-y
April 2015
These patterns are replicated for the full 12 months to March. Dry conditions were recorded
throughout Tasmania, in western Victoria/south-eastern South Australia, Queensland and
northern and western New South Wales and the south-west corner of Western Australia (figure
4). Northern parts of South Australia, the south-east of New South Wales and eastern Victoria
have seen above average rainfall.
Figure 4:
6|Page
April 2015
The Bureau predicts that much of mainland Australia will record wetter and warmer than
normal seasonal conditions between April and June 2015 (figures 5 and 6). Tasmania is
expected to see normal conditions.
Figure 5: Chance of exceeding median
rainfall (April to June 2015)
Figure 6:
Chance of exceeding median
maximum temperature (April to June 2015)
As at 31st March, the Bureau stated that the chance El Nio being declared in the coming
months is at 50%. This is double the average likelihood of an event occurring at this time of
the year. It also noted that international climate models monitored by the Bureau indicate the
central Pacific Ocean will continue to warm, with all models indicating El Nio thresholds will
be reached or exceeded by mid-year.
April 2015
Victoria
Seasonal conditions have been good in significant parts of the state until drying off in past few
months. As a result, sheep have been in very good condition, until recently so average fleece
weights are expected to be higher in 2014/15. With the dry summer and early autumn, there
has been a sell-off of sheep. These sheep that have been sold-off are typically being shorn
first, which will mean that the fall in sheep shorn numbers will not be as great as the decline
in opening sheep numbers at the start of the 2014/15 season. The higher average fleece
weights will more than offset the decline in the number of sheep shorn. Wool production will
therefore be 2% higher for the full 2014/15 season.
Western Australia
Opening sheep numbers are reported by the ABS to be down sharply, but sheep shorn
numbers are not expected to be down by as much. Average fleece weights are expected to
move back to the 50th percentile level. There is currently intense competition for sheep for live
trade and slaughter. Seasonal conditions are dry in some areas but are excellent in the
northern sheep producing regions of the state. Over the full season, both the number of sheep
shorn and the average wool cut per head is likely to decline, resulting in a 7% fall in shorn
wool production.
South Australia
Seasonal conditions have been good to very good in the pastoral areas (northern South
Australia) and dry in the south-east. As a result fleece weights are up in the north and
reasonable in the south due to hand-feeding. This, combined with signs that pursuit of higher
fleece weights is starting to bear fruit, means that average fleece weights will be higher this
season. The number of sheep shorn will also lift, in part due to increased early shearing. For
the full 2014/15 season, there is expected to be an 8% increase in shorn wool production.
Tasmania
Seasonal conditions were difficult over summer in the main wool-growing regions in central
Tasmania and, unless there is rain in the next few weeks (before it gets too cold), winter will
be difficult. This is likely to result in a decline in average fleece weights. There appears to have
been a turn-off of sheep over the past 6 weeks, but these have been shorn before sale. The
number of sheep shorn for the full 2014/15 season is estimated to have increased, even
though opening sheep numbers were lower. This will offset the decline in average fleece
weights and result in the same level of shorn wool production in 2014/15 as in 2013/14.
Queensland
There was very low rainfall during summer (the main rainfall period for Queensland) in
significant parts of the sheep producing regions of Queensland. This has resulted in a further
significant turn-off of sheep as well as advanced shearing. Average fleece weights are lower
than a year earlier. Both the number of sheep shorn and the average cut per head will fall and
production is predicted to decline by 25% in 2014/15 to the lowest on record.
8|Page
April 2015
Appendix
Table 1:
Comparison of the 4th forecast for 2014/15 against the final estimate for
2013/14
2013/14
Final Estimate
Opening Sheep Number
(million)
QLD
NSW
VIC
TAS
SA
WA
National
2.9
27.9
16.1
2.4
10.8
15.5
75.5
2.9
28.4
17.8
2.6
10.7
15.6
78.0
3.72
4.41
3.96
3.92
4.86
4.60
4.37
10.8
125.3
70.5
10.2
52.0
71.8
341
QLD
NSW
VIC
TAS
SA
WA
National
2.3
26.8
15.1
2.4
10.8
14.2
71.6
2.3
27.8
17.1
2.7
11.0
15.0
75.8
3.58
4.60
4.20
3.85
5.10
4.44
4.49
8.1
128.1
71.9
10.2
56.1
66.4
341
2014/15
4th Forecast (Apr-15)
Opening Sheep Number
(million)
QLD
NSW
VIC
TAS
SA
WA
National
-20.1%
-3.9%
-6.0%
-1.9%
-0.2%
-7.9%
-5.2%
-21.9%
-1.9%
-3.9%
1.9%
2.8%
-4.1%
-2.8%
-3.8%
4.3%
6.0%
-1.9%
4.9%
-3.5%
-1.3%
-24.8%
2.2%
1.9%
0.0%
7.9%
-7.4%
0.0%
Change %
9|Page
April 2015
Opening Sheep
Number
1991-92
(million)
163.1
(million)
180.9
(kg)
4.65
(mkg greasy)
801
1992-93
148.1
178.8
4.43
815
1993-94
138.0
172.8
4.56
775
1994-95
132.5
156.2
4.49
682
1995-96
120.8
145.6
4.37
655
1996-97
121.0
152.0
4.50
661
1997-98
120.1
150.0
4.35
633
1998-99
117.4
153.6
4.22
665
1999-00
115.4
144.2
4.33
619
2000-01
118.5
139.5
4.30
602
2001-02
110.8
118.6
4.31
555
2002-03
106.1
116.6
4.68
499
2003-04
99.2
104.7
4.28
475
2004-05
101.2
106.0
4.53
475
2005-06
101.1
106.5
4.49
461
2006-07
91.0
101.4
4.33
430
2007-08
85.7
90.2
4.24
400
2008-09
76.9
79.3
4.43
362
2009-10
72.7
76.2
4.52
343
2010-11
70.8
76.2
4.50
345
2011-12
73.1
76.4
4.53
342
2012-13
74.7
78.8
4.48
352
2013-14
75.5
71.6
69.1
78.0
75.8
73.7
4.47
4.49
4.50
341
341
332
2014-15f
2015-16f
Table 3:
Shorn Wool
Production
25/26
27/28
29/30
>30.5
Average Fibre
Diameter (um)
13.4%
7.1%
5.5%
2.9%
1.6%
1.0%
22.0
15.6%
10.0%
7.9%
3.0%
1.9%
1.6%
22.4
20.8%
15.7%
10.0%
7.4%
2.8%
1.9%
1.7%
22.4
20.9%
19.9%
13.0%
7.0%
4.7%
2.8%
2.0%
1.7%
22.0
15.3%
20.8%
18.5%
13.2%
8.1%
6.0%
2.7%
1.8%
1.6%
22.1
9.7%
15.3%
20.1%
18.3%
13.1%
7.4%
5.3%
2.3%
1.9%
1.8%
22.0
4.5%
9.8%
14.8%
19.4%
18.3%
12.8%
7.7%
5.4%
2.6%
1.8%
1.5%
21.9
1.1%
4.2%
8.8%
14.6%
19.6%
18.6%
14.0%
7.6%
5.1%
2.7%
2.0%
1.5%
22.0
0.1%
1.0%
4.2%
9.3%
14.4%
19.1%
18.2%
13.6%
7.7%
5.2%
2.9%
2.4%
1.9%
22.1
2000/01
0.2%
1.3%
5.2%
11.1%
15.7%
18.5%
16.4%
11.4%
6.8%
5.1%
3.6%
2.8%
1.9%
22.0
2001/02
0.3%
2.0%
7.2%
14.4%
19.9%
18.9%
12.9%
7.7%
4.1%
3.7%
3.8%
3.1%
1.9%
21.6
2002/03
1.0%
3.9%
9.8%
15.7%
18.9%
17.6%
12.0%
6.6%
2.9%
3.4%
3.7%
2.9%
1.7%
21.2
2003/04
0.7%
3.6%
9.9%
15.8%
18.3%
16.6%
11.9%
7.5%
3.6%
3.5%
3.8%
2.9%
1.8%
21.3
2004/05
1.2%
4.2%
10.5%
16.5%
18.7%
15.9%
10.7%
6.2%
3.2%
3.6%
4.1%
3.1%
2.0%
21.2
2005/06
1.4%
4.7%
9.7%
15.1%
18.7%
17.1%
11.5%
5.9%
2.9%
3.9%
4.5%
2.9%
1.6%
21.2
2006/07
2.0%
5.9%
11.8%
15.9%
16.9%
14.0%
9.9%
6.2%
3.4%
4.3%
4.4%
3.2%
2.1%
21.2
2007/08
1.9%
5.3%
10.9%
16.8%
18.4%
14.3%
9.2%
5.5%
3.0%
4.1%
4.8%
3.6%
2.2%
21.2
2008/09
2.0%
5.7%
11.4%
16.6%
18.5%
15.0%
9.1%
4.4%
2.3%
3.8%
5.1%
3.8%
2.2%
21.2
2009/10
2.3%
6.2%
12.6%
17.1%
17.5%
13.2%
8.4%
4.6%
2.5%
4.1%
5.4%
3.9%
2.3%
21.2
2010/11
1.5%
4.8%
11.0%
16.8%
18.0%
13.5%
8.4%
5.4%
3.0%
3.9%
5.5%
5.0%
3.1%
21.5
2011/12
1.8%
5.6%
12.0%
17.1%
16.6%
12.3%
8.3%
5.3%
2.9%
4.2%
5.8%
4.7%
3.3%
21.5
2012/13
2.5%
7.0%
13.3%
17.5%
16.8%
12.0%
7.3%
4.1%
2.3%
4.6%
6.2%
4.0%
2.5%
21.2
2013/14
3.8%
8.4%
14.6%
17.8%
16.0%
10.9%
6.2%
3.4%
2.2%
5.2%
6.4%
3.1%
2.1%
20.9
2014/15*
3.0%
7.7%
14.5%
18.3%
15.8%
10.7%
6.4%
3.4%
1.9%
4.6%
6.9%
4.1%
2.6%
21.1
Year
<16.5
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
1991/92
0.1%
0.7%
3.2%
7.9%
15.2%
21.5%
20.0%
1992/93
0.0%
0.3%
1.9%
5.4%
12.0%
19.9%
20.6%
1993/94
0.1%
0.5%
2.4%
5.9%
12.1%
18.8%
1994/95
0.1%
0.6%
3.5%
8.6%
15.2%
1995/96
0.0%
0.6%
3.3%
8.2%
1996/97
0.2%
0.8%
3.9%
1997/98
0.2%
1.2%
1998/99
0.2%
1999/00
Note: Totals may not add due to rounding. 2014/15* is data season to date (July - March)
10 | P a g e
April 2015
11 | P a g e