News

Recently the International Monetary Fund released new forecasts for economic growth for the world and for each country. They make for better, more hopeful reading than 12 months ago when COVID-19 was first hitting the countries of the world. The IMF says that ‘Global prospects remain highly uncertain one year into the pandemic. New virus mutations and the accumulating human toll raise concerns, even as growing vaccine coverage lifts sentiment. Economic recoveries are diverging across countries…

Wool exports rise for Australia, NZ and South Africa, down for South American countries The latest data on wool exports from the five major wool producing and exporting countries show some stark difference between countries. The volume of wool exported from Australia in February jumped by 30% compared with February 2020. It should be said that the export volume in February 2020 of 21.5 mkg greasy was the lowest February monthly total at least since 1979 (as far as my databases go back). The 30%…

In the Weekly Newsletter edition of 22nd January 2021, I reported that an article in The Economist magazine asked if a new commodity supercycle is beginning. I thought it would be good to see how that claim is stacking up two months later. The case for a commodity supercycle remains, with the sharp rise in the prices for the major commodities continuing over the past three months, although the most recent data suggests a bit of a slow-down. [There seems to be an anomalous result in February…

The National Council of Wool Selling Brokers of Australia is delighted to announce the appointment of Paul Deane as the new Executive Director of NCWSBA. NCWSBA is the only national organisation representing wool brokers on all issues that affect the Australian wool industry. The organisation works with government and the wool industry on issues and policy to promote, foster and develop the interests of woolgrowers and wool selling brokers within Australia. Mr Deane has spent the past two…

The NCWSBA Wool Broker Award for 2021 has been launched! After the COVID-cancelled 2020 Award, this is the tenth year the Award has been offered. This year’s Award is again sponsored by AWTA (as the industry sponsor) and Sheep Central (as the media sponsor). The Award recognises excellence in wool broking by a younger member of our industry – be it client servicing, auctioneering, innovation or other aspects of wool broking. This year’s Award winner will be granted an all-expenses paid trip to…