WOOL production within SA is expected to be down 8 per cent on 2017-18 figures, according to data from the Australian Wool Production Forecasting committee.
The updated forecast of shorn wool production for this financial year nationally is 305 million kilograms, down 10.8pc.
The fall reflects an expected reduction in both the number of sheep shorn and the average annual wool cut per head as a result of the continuing difficult seasonal across many of the major wool producing regions of the country.
Continuing dry conditions in NSW, Qld, northern and eastern Vic, and the northern parts of SA have been tempered somewhat by the better seasonal conditions in the South East, Tas, western Vic and parts of WA.
SA production is expected to drop from 59.5mkg to 54.7mkg.
High sheep slaughter to the end of September is expected to reduce the number of sheep shorn in 2018-19 by 6.6pc to 71.7 million head, with a 4.4pc reduction in annual average cut per head to 4.25kg as a result of the tough seasonal conditions.
Committee chairman Russell Pattinson said the committee brought forward its usual December meeting into November to provide the industry with an updated forecast for the remainder of the current season.
“The second forecast made in August at 322 mkg was contingent on how the season progressed over the spring period,” he said.
“Tough seasonal conditions have continued in many regions and as the wool textile industry is monitoring the situation closely, it was important to provide updated information to the market.”
Rain in October and early November has slightly improved the outlook for wool production in parts of the country.
The committee noted that for the 2018-19 season to the end of October, the Australian Wool Testing Authority test data showed a large increase in the weight of wool tested in all micron ranges up to 18.5 microns as well as a large decline in the weight of 20 to 23M wool and 28.6M and broader wool.
Volumes have generally fallen for other micron ranges.
The average mean fibre diameter for the season to the end of October was 20.1M, down by 0.5M.
The average staple length across Australia has fallen by 3.2 millimetres to 85.8mm, with all states recording shorter staple length for the season to date compared with the same period in 2017-18.
The state and national committees will next meet in March and early April 2019.
- The full forecast report will be available on the AWI website at wool.com/forecasts from November 23.
