Australia:

As already advised, 3 – week recess at the moment.

Auctions begin again during the week starting August 9^th. 
 

A r g e n t i n a 
 

SRA Argentine Rural Society - 124th. Palermo Farm Show

In Argentina, the whole livestock & wool sector are quite attentive at what happens in the Ocre Pavilion right besides the entrance of the Palermo Fair Grounds.

Sheep will be judged between Wed 28 and Fri 30, mainly meat breeds as is already happening in the recent years. 

On Tuesday 27 at 10 AM, and again on Thu 29 as from 2 PM, a series of interesting conferences and discussions about sheepmeat and lambs have been organised..  
 

New National Sheepmeat ( and Lamb ) Programme

Last 15.07 the Ministry of Agriculture was the venue of a first meeting around a proposal to launch a National Sheepmeat Programm.

Taking into consideration existing parts of the alredy existing Patagonian Lamb Programme, they aim at joining together all producing provinces, some of which already have their own ovine programmes.

A new meeting has been announced for mid August, where first definitions will be put into paper.  
 

Situation and Prospects of the Wool and Lamb Markets – stand 30.06.10                                                                                                                     

continues

Lamb & sheepmeat exports 
 

Argentina has a ( EU ) Hilton quota of 23.000 T. of special sheepmeat & lamb of which only 5.000 were shipped during 2009..

The growth potential is enormous, as we ship to 20 different countries.

During this year up to May, a total of 5.340 T. of lamb & sheepmeat in different presentations were shipped, both whole carcasses and special cuts. 
 

For a total F.O.B. value of  U$S 22.110.000 – average U$S 4.140 per Tonne. 
 

Destinations

1 ) Spain 28 %, 2 ) U.K.15 %, 3 ) Portugal 9 %, 4 ) Saudi Arabia 6 %,

5 ) Israel 5 %, 6 ) Oman 4 %, and with 3 % each  7 ) Brasil, 8 ) Qatar, 9 ) France, and 10 ) Sweden.

The balance of  21 % were shipped to 10 other countries. 
 
 

The abattoirs & freezing plants

Now, apart from the big Patagonian plants whose main seasonal product is lamb for  Europe, several plants are operating in Buenos Aires province, with new sanitary permits to export to African countries, to the Middle East and to Brazil. 
 

A serious source in Ayacucho, in the Salado River basin in B.A. province, mentions that lambs which last year fetched between Pesos 90 and 100, can be sold at prices between 180 and 220 Pesos.

Another source said that they should be worth Pesos 160, depending on live weights.                                                                                                                    
 

W O O L – The  strong quest  for  q u a l i t y 
 

Growing consciousness that the future of wool, especially the finest ones,

Is linked to its intrinsec quality, and its abilities for easier processing. 
 

Hence gradually finer microns, better fibre length, of great softness ( handle ), and particulary much better resistance to traction ( fibre strength ), measured in Newton per Kilotex. 
 

The best wools, usually pre – lambing shorn, fetch better, diferential prices, reflecting their quality. 
 

They can be used to manufacture high – end products,

For example inner garments which can be worn on the skin, with great comfort.                                                   
 

The opportunities resulting from the present Australian situation 
 

Wool production in Australia has been reduced in the recent years again and again, pushing prices upwards due to the reduced selection.  
 

And that generates new opportunities for special fine wools produced in other countries,  in first place New Zealand,  
 

And in a growing volume also in South America ( Argentina, Chile & Uruguay )  where growers working around the quest for excellence,  sell now with with a brand, at values near and sometimes even above those reported from the Australian auctions.

Contines next  week. 
 

Best regards ! 
 

                                 = JOAQUIN B. ( JACK ) ALLOLIO =