After a brief respite in the downward trend, young cattle prices continued their drift lower this week. With grain prices on the up, hay in short supply and more depressing forecasts it is no surprise that sellers are taking advantage of what are relatively strong...
In the commentary last week, we noted that demand for lamb and sheep was keeping sale yard prices supported. Alas, it seems that supply has got the upper hand this week with East coast prices broadly softer. The Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator (ESTLI) off...
Winter officially arrives next week, and with it, we expect lamb slaughter to decline from recent record highs. Traditionally lamb supply throughout the winter is sustained by the last of the old season lambs, and the arrival of new season spring lambs out of NSW...
Another week, another record. The wool market was again lit up with green across the board. But where one wins, one must loose. We’re seeing the effects of what has been a remarkably strong season play out on supply, and this means buyers are having...
We recently had a query as to whether there was much seasonality in New Zealand lamb slaughter. We have covered this before, but given New Zealand are our only major competitor in lamb export markets, it’s worth another look. Australian lamb slaughter has some seasonality, with...
Regular readers will no doubt be aware that we like to base our analysis in basic economic theory. Supply, demand, price, that sort of thing. It also piques the interest when a market behaves in a way contrary to the normal rules, and we’ve seen...
The wool market set another record this week, it is looking settled at these previously un-attained price levels. Probably another record was set when wool producers in the Sydney catalogue sold 99.9% of bales offered in the first day. Growers are enjoying this market! After last...
The beginnings of the Autumn break in the South has placed a floor under cattle prices during the last week with the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator (EYCI) gaining 1.3% to sit just below 490.5¢/kg cwt. Victoria has received some good rain in recent days but...
The weather continues to be the biggest driver of the market both globally and now increasingly at a local level. The Australian crop is currently on the precipice, with a huge degree of risk currently being priced in. In this weekly comment, I take a...
The wool market bounced out of the blocks this week, from outset the buyers were forced to compete vigorously to secure any volume. A weaker Au$ assisted but there was no denying the urgency of the buyers as they bid up. The Fremantle market got a...