The manager of the Australian Mohair Marketing Organisation, Craig Clancy, is encouraging producers in that country to enter the Angora goat/mohair industry or expand existing flocks, according to today’s North Queensland Register newspaper online.
Clancy said the recent drouth in Australia has forced ranchers to cut flocks to the minimum and keep only their best animals, as has been the case in Texas with the remaining mohair producers.

Australian mohair bales at AMMO.

Clancy said the global outlook for mohair markets is “bright.” He said the next AMMO auction of mohair was scheduled to take place in Sydney, Australia, in May of this year. At the last auction in November 2007 the National Mohair Pool sold 22,609 kilograms for an average price of AUS $8.34/kg greasy, which translates at today’s exchange rates to about US $7.50 per kilogram or US $3.41 per pound.

Clancy said the bulk of Australian production ranged from 29 to 32 micron fiber.
Despite the price going down due to the strengthening Aussie dollar against the U.S. dollar, he said there was still a need for the industry to grow because supply was the lowest its been in about 30 years. “There is no risk of oversupply,” he said.

AMMO is a grower controlled non-profit firm in Narrandera, N.S.W., Australia, and acts as a broker on behalf of mohair producers. Classed, baled fiber is offered to the trade at the completion of each pool. Proceeds are distributed to producers once overhead has been deducted.