Australian wool production is expected to decline slightly in 2008/09, although production in Queensland and New South Wales is expected to expand.

The production of shearing wool (non defatted) in 2008/09 is expected to be 385 million kg, which is 4% less than that in 2007/08.

Global food prices are running high, and drought continues in some parts of eastern Australia, resulting in a decrease in the number of sheep.

The chairman of the committee, Russell Pattinson, said: "we expect that the output of wool from Queensland 2008/09 will rise, and New South Wales's output will increase slightly. Unfortunately, the increase in output will not be enough to compensate for the decrease in production in other regions."

The latest report will be released on the AWI website in the afternoon of July 9th.

In the latest 2007/08, the estimated production of Australian sheared wool was 400 million hectares, which was 5 million kilograms (non defatted) compared with the March 2008 meeting.

The total output of Australian sheared wool was 385 million kg in 2008/09. The output of each province is as follows:

New South Wales – 139 million kg (1% growth)

Queensland – 21 million kg (7% growth)

Vitoria – 78 million kg (decrease 4%)

Tasmania – 8 million kg (decrease 14%)

Western Australia - 83 million kg (decrease 10%)

? southern Australia - 56 million kg (decrease 5%)