FAQs

AWTA Raw Wool are frequently approached by brokers, wool growers and others who have specific questions about the Company, its services and many other matters which relate to the Wool Industry. A broad selection of questions are available below: AWTA...

Research papers

AWTA has achieved a world wide reputation for its research work and now has one of the largest teams of scientists working on raw wool metrology. Our scientists regularly report on their work to the technical forums of the International Wool Textile...

Accreditation

AWTA has a strong international reputation for Technical Excellence. AWTA submits its technical performance to external monitoring through an annual publication of Independent Laboratories Round Trials (ILRT) group performance to the International Wool...

Australian Wool Industry Unveils the Australian Wool Traceability Hub (AWTH)

Today marks the official launch of the Australian Wool Traceability Hub (AWTH), a platform designed to enhance traceability across the Australian wool supply chain. The Hub represents a significant industry collaboration, bringing together industry...

Wool comfort revolution now on sale to global garment makers

Blue-sky research aimed at guaranteeing the comfort of wool to the consumer is now a commercial reality, with the Australian Wool Testing Authority (AWTA) today launching the Wool ComfortMeter and Wool HandleMeter. Developed by Australia’s Cooperative...

Seasonal conditions hold back wool production

The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee forecasts that Australian shorn wool production in 2017/18 will reach 338 mkg greasy. This is a 0.6% decline from the levels in 2016/17 and is largely the result of more difficult seasonal conditions...

Australian Wool Production Higher

The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee forecasts that Australian shorn wool production in 2016/17 will reach 339 mkg greasy. This 4.3% increase from 2015/16 is largely the result of excellent seasonal conditions in many areas resulting in...

Australian wool production to lift a little in 2017/18

The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee forecasts that shorn wool production will lift in 2017/18 to 345 mkg greasy, up by 1.4% compared with 2016/17. The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee forecasts that shorn wool...

Australian shorn wool production stabilises as fleece weights rise

The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee’s third forecast of shorn wool production for 2020/21 is 287 mkg greasy, up 1.1% on 2019/20. Favourable seasonal conditions in most wool producing regions, except Western Australia and Queensland,...

Wool production unchanged in 2016/17

The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee predicts that shorn wool production in 2016/17 will be at 325 mkg greasy, the same level as its revised estimate for the 2015/16 season. The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee predicts...

Wool Industry - Working Together to Future Proof Our Fibre

Five leading Australian wool industry groups are jointly working to develop a mechanism that sets the industry up for success into the future. Australian Council of Wool Exporters and Processors (ACWEP), Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX), Australian Wool...

Improved seasonal conditions but low sheep numbers limit recovery in shorn wool production

The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee’s fourth forecast of shorn wool production in 2019/20 is 281 mkg greasy. This is a 6.3% decline on the 300 mkg estimate for 2018/19 as lowsheep numbers and the enduring impact of drought continue to...

Australian Wool Traceability Hub – 90% of Wool to be Traced by 2025

The Australian Wool Traceability Hub is an opportunity for the Australian wool industry to get ahead of the curve when it comes to Australian wool’s Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) response plan as well as end-to-end commercial traceability from farm to...

Australian shorn wool production continues a steady increase

The latest Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee’s forecast of shorn wool production for 2021/22 is 314 Mkg greasy, up 6.5% on 2020/21. Most key wool producing regions continue to enjoy favourable seasonal conditions which has boosted per...

Decline in Australian wool production in 2015/16 greater than expected

The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee forecasts that shorn wool production for 2015/16 will decline by 7.0% to 322 mkg. This reflects a combination of a 4.8% fall in shorn sheep numbers and a 2.3% drop in average fleece weights. The...

Lachlan Sutton, Wool Broker of the Year 2016

Lachlan Sutton was declared Wool Broker of the Year for 2016 at the Wool Week Dinner held in Melbourne last week. HIS innovative approach to marketing at a local and national level nabbed Elders’ Lachlan Sutton the National Council of Wool Selling...

Shorn wool production increases due to improved season

The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee’s fourth forecast of shorn wool production in 2020/21 is 290 mkg greasy. This is a 2.1% increase on the 284 mkg estimate for 2019/20 as key wool growing regions experience favourable seasonal...

Drought continues to push Australian wool production lower

The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee’s second forecast of shorn wool production in 2019/20 is 285 mkg greasy. This is a 5% decline on 2018/19 is due to lower sheep shorn numbers. The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee’s...

Australian wool production falls as dry conditions continue

The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee’s third forecast of shorn wool production in 2019/20 is 272 mkg greasy. This is a 9.2% decline on 2018/19 that is attributable to lower sheep shorn numbers and lighter average fleece weights due to...

Shorn wool production increases as the run of good seasons continue

The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee’s second forecast of shorn wool production for 2022/23 is 340 Mkg greasy, up 4.9% on 2021/22. The continuing La Niña conditions have set up a very positive spring season in key wool producing...

Australian wool production to ease in 2015/16

The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee forecasts that shorn wool production for 2015/16 will decline by 4.3% to 332 mkg. This reflects a 3.7% fall in shorn sheep numbers, a result of the continued high turn-off of sheep and lambs in...

Excellent seasonal conditions push Australian wool production higher in 2016/17

The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee forecasts that shorn wool production will lift by 2.2% to 332 mkg greasy in 2016/17. The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee forecasts that shorn wool production will lift by 2.2% to 332...

Australian wool production impacted by tough season

The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee’s updated forecast of shorn wool production in 2018/19 is 305 mkg greasy, down by 10.8% from 2017/18. Continuing dry conditions in New South Wales, Queensland, northern Victoria, east Gippsland and...

Brochures and Handbooks

As part of its services to its clients and other interested parties, AWTA publishes brochures and various handbooks featuring information in regard to: AWTA's services Explanations/Reviews of current standard test methods Research & development of new...

Drought continues to impact Australian wool production

The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee forecasts that Australian shorn wool production for 2018/19 will be 298 mkg greasy. This is a 12.7% decline from the levels in 2017/18 and reflects the continuing drought conditions across large...

Australian shorn wool production stabilises in 2020/21

The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee’s second forecast of shorn wool production in 2020/21 is 280 mkg greasy, down 1.1% on 2019/20. The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee’s second forecast of shorn wool production in...

Australian shorn wool production forecast of 324 Mkg greasy in 2023/24

The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee (AWPFC) has updated its forecast of shorn wool production for the 2023/24 season. The fourth forecast is for production of 324 million kilograms (Mkg) greasy, 1.0% lower than the 2022/23 estimate and...

Yield & Fibre Diameter

AWTA Raw Wool's key service is the independent sampling, testing and certifying of the Yield and Fibre Diameter of greasy wool before it is sold. Prior to the measurment of Yield and Fibre Diameter, a representative sample must be obtained. A core...

Australian shorn wool production forecast of 340 Mkg greasy for 2022/23

The latest Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee’s forecast of shorn wool production for 2022/23 remains at 340 Mkg greasy, up 5.0% on the 324 Mkg greasy estimate for 2021/22. The latest Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee’s...

Wool production remains down in 2015/16

The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee (AWPFC) confirmed its forecast of shorn wool production for the 2015/16 season at 322 million kilograms greasy, a 7.0% decline on the 2014/15 season, as predicted at its meeting in December. The...

Specialised Wool Equipment

Wool ComfortMeter Retailers and manufacturers now have a reliable means of objectively specifying and promoting a garment on the basis of superior comfort for the wearer, using The Wool ComfortMeter; a easy-to-use desktop instrument. Accurately and...

Volume and Trends

Wool Production & Measurement Trends AWTA's database contains extensive information for the number of bales tested, the weight of wool tested and associated objective measurements. As almost every lot of wool sold in Australia is certified for Yield...

Australian shorn wool production forecast for 2024/25 revised down to 279.4 Mkg greasy

The latest Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee’s forecast of shorn wool production for 2024/25 is 279.4 Mkg greasy, a 12.0% decrease on the 2023/24 estimate. • The latest Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee’s forecast of shorn...

Shorn wool production moves higher

The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee’s second forecast of shorn wool production in 2021/22 is 310 Mkg greasy, up 5.2% on 2020/21. Widespread rainfall throughout many key wool producing regions augurs well for a good spring season. Both...

Candice Cordy wins the 2018 Wool Broker of the Year

Landmark’s Candice Cordy has taken out the 2018 Wool Broker of the Year title. The Bendigo wool account manager’s prestigious win was announced at the Australian Wool Industries Secretariat’s Wool Week gala in Melbourne. Ms Cordy, who is currently...

Australian shorn wool production continues a moderate increase

The latest Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee’s forecast of shorn wool production for 2022/23 is 328 Mkg greasy, up 1.3% on 2021/22. Most key wool producing regions experienced a favourable summer season, a reasonable autumn and are...

Raw Wool Terms August 2013

Declaration Rates

Property Identification Code (PIC) transmission rates: AWTA stores PICs that are declared by sellers as part of the presale testing process. Only the code is stored in AWTA's database and it remains anonymous as we have no means of identifying or...

Australian Wool Production Forecast Update – April 2013

The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee has increased the forecast of shorn wool production for 2012/13 to 350mkg, 2.3% above the 342mkg produced in 2011/12. The increase is due to an expected 3.3% rise in the number of sheep shorn, partly...

Australian wool production to ease in 2014/15

The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee's second forecast for 2014/15 has revised shorn wool production to 328 mkg, down 3.7% from 2013/14 levels. This decrease reflects the reduction in sheep numbers due to the high slaughter rates in...

Australian wool production unchanged in 2014/15 and predicted to ease in 2015/16

The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee forecasts shorn wool production for 2014/15 at 341 mkg, the same as the 2013/14 level. This reflects a small drop in shorn sheep numbers offset by higher average fleece weights. The Committee’s first...

Fees

AWTA Raw Wool 2024/25 Testing Fees are valid 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025. Test types and services, including 2024/25 fees are comprehensively detailed in our AWTA Raw Wool Testing Fees list, which is available for download below. Current fees...

Australian wool production expected to ease slightly in 2013/14

The Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee has maintained its estimate of shorn wool production for 2012/13 at 350mkg. The Committee's second forecast of 2013/14 production remains unchanged at 345mkg, down 1.4 per cent from the 2012/13...

Dark & Medullated Fibre Risk Scheme

Australian Merino wool has enjoyed a high reputation and price premium for more than one hundred years because it produced wool tops with low levels of dark and medullated fibre contamination. Recently, early and later stage processors of Australian...

Scoured Wool

Scouring is the process of preparing and washing a batch of raw sheep's wool to remove impurities such as grease, dirt and suint. AWTA Raw Wool is able to perform the certified testing of scoured and carbonised wool for Wool Base, Vegetable Matter Base...

Staple Length & Strength

One of the most important characteristics for determining the value of greasy wool is the average fibre length that will be achieved when the wool has been processed or combed into wool top. This length is known as the Hauteur (fibre length in the Wool...

About AWTA Raw Wool

AWTA Raw Wool provides independent and objective wool certification services. AWTA Raw Wool's major services are sampling, testing and certifying the yield, fibre diameter, vegetable matter content, staple length and staple strength of greasy wool...

The Australian Wool Traceability Hub Gains Momentum

The Australian Wool Traceability Hub (AWTH) continues to make significant strides in enhancing the wool industry's capability to respond effectively and quickly to an Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) outbreak. With a strong focus on increasing industry...

Testing the Wool Clip - Chinese

AWTA Podcast - by Elisabeth van Delden

Michael Jackson is the Managing Director of AWTA, the Australian Wool Testing Authority. In this Wool Academy Podcast Michael explains how wool testing works. In particular he explains what wool tests are applied to each bale of wool and what the...