Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics released on Friday shows that the volume of exports from Australia declined again in April, but the value of exports remained above year-earlier levels. Wool export volumes fell by 5% in April, largely due to a 9% year-on-year fall in exports to China. Exports to India, the Czech Republic, Korea, Italy and Egypt all increased in April. It is no surprise to see the decline in export volumes, given the drop in the volume of wool tested and offered at auction this season. These changes meant that the volume of exports for the ten months of the 2015/16 season to April was down by 9%, with only India and Egypt (of the top seven export destinations) recording an increase. The value of exports lifted by 4% in April, with exports to the top seven export destinations (including China) increasing compared with April 2015. For the season to April, the value of wool exports was 6% higher than in the same period in 2014/15.

Full details including a chart showing the long term trends in Australia's wool exports by volume and in A$ and in US$ is contained in this week's NCWSBA Weekly Newsletter. Available to NCWSBA members.