Welcome to the Elders Water Market Update for the 2025/26 season, for the week beginning 18 May 2026.
Trading closures
In accordance with the relevant Valley Water Sharing Plans, please note the following season close dates for water allocation trading:
- Murrumbidgee Regulated Interstate – Closed
- NSW Murray and Lower Darling Regulated River Interstate – Closed
- Murrumbidgee Regulated Intravalley – 11:59pm 16 June 2026
- All other Regulated Water, Groundwater and Unregulated Water - 11:59pm 16 June 2026
- Coleambally Irrigation – dates yet to be released by CICL
- Murray Irrigation – external trades 12pm 16 June 2026 and internal trades 5pm 25 June 2026
- Murrumbidgee Irrigation – external trades 12pm 16 June 2026 and internal trades 11:59pm 30 June 2026.
Allocations
Allocations are as follows:
| Zone | Allocation | 1 year ago | +/- per cent |
| Murrumbidgee | |||
| High Security | 95 pc | 95 pc | Same |
| General Security | 32 pc | 41 pc | -8 pc |
| NSW Murray (Zones 10 & 11) | |||
| High Security | 97 pc | 97 pc | Same |
| General Security | 22 pc | 110 pc | -88 pc |
| Lachlan | |||
| High Security | 100 pc | 100 pc | Same |
| General Security | 22 pc | 7 pc | +15 pc |
| Vic Murray (Zones 6 & 7) | |||
| High Reliability | 100 pc | 100 pc | Same |
| Low Reliability | 0 pc | 0 pc | Same |
| SA Murray | 100 pc | 100 pc | Same |
| Murrumbidgee Deep Groundwater | 100 pc | 100 pc | Same |
| Lower Murray Deep Groundwater | 100 pc | 100 pc | Same |
| Lower Lachlan Groundwater | 100 pc | 100 pc | Same |
Allocation outlooks
South Australia has announced a minimum opening allocation of 62pc, based on “worst case scenario” inflow predictions, which have been provided by the Bureau of Meteorology. Read the full announcement.
The Victorian Resource Manager has also updated their indicative outlook. Opening seasonal determinations in the Murray, Goulburn, Campaspe and Loddon systems are likely to be low unless there is more rainfall and flows into the storages. Read the full announcement.
New South Wales have also announced the following indicative allocations:
NSW Murray
- 100pc allocation for local water utility and domestic and stock access licences
- 97pc for high security licences
- 0pc for general security licences
- Conveyance expected to be allocated in accordance with the MDB plan rules
- Full availability of general security carryover (estimated to currently be approximately 25pc), providing inflows and losses remain within budgeted volumes
- 100pc for supplementary access licence.
Murrumbidgee
- 100pc allocation for local water utility and domestic and stock access licences
- 95pc for high security licences (although this figure is being assessed closely)
- 0pc for general security licences
- Conveyance expected to be allocated in accordance with the MDB plan rules
- Full availability of general security carryover (estimated to currently be approximately 17pc), providing inflows and losses remain within budgeted volumes
- 100pc for supplementary access licence.
Trade Restrictions
MURRUMBIDGEE/MURRAY IVT
Is currently open for Murrumbidgee to Murray trade, but closed for Murray to Murrumbidgee trade, with balances as follows:
- Murray to Murrumbidgee – 6.2GL
- Murrumbidgee to Murray – 93.8GL
BARMAH CHOKE is closed.
Storages
According to the Bureau of Meterorology (BOM), storage levels are currently as follows:
| As at 9am | Current | 1 Day | 7 Days | 30 Days | 1 Year | |
| Murrumbidgee | 14 May 26 | 28.0 pc | NIL | NIL | +1.2 pc | -9.4 pc |
| Blowering | 13 May 26 | 22.0 pc | +0.1pc | +0.1pc | +2.2 pc | - 11.8 pc |
| Burrinjuck | 13 May 26 | 37.5 pc | NIL | NIL | -0.2 pc | -4.2 pc |
| Murray | 14 May26 | 44.6 pc | NIL | +0.5 pc | +1.5 pc | - 5.4 pc |
| Hume | 13 May 26 | 21.7 pc | +0.3 pc | +1.5 pc | -6.8 pc | -0.4 pc |
| Dartmouth | 13 May 26 | 64.5 pc | NIL | +0.1 pc | +0.4 pc | -10.2 pc |
| Lachlan | 18 May 26 | 61.2 pc | NIL | -0.6 pc | -2.9 pc | -16.8 pc |
| Wyangala | 17 May 26 | 61.4 pc | - 0.1pc | -0.7 pc | -3.0 pc | -17.3 pc |
Current Temporary Market
Indicative pricing is as follows:
| Zone | Buyers | Sellers | Last trade | Trend |
| Murrumbidgee | $400 | $400 | Down | |
| NSW Murray 10 (Above Choke) | $300 | $300 | $300 | Down |
| NSW Murray 11 (Below Choke) | $350 | $350 | $350 | Down |
| Vic Murray 6 (Above Choke) | $310 | $310 | $310 | Down |
| Vic Murray 7 (Above Choke) | $380 | $385 | $380 | Down |
| SA Murray | $380 | $385 | $380 | Down |
| Lachlan | $200- $220 | $200- $220 | $200- $220 | Steady |
| Murrumbidgee Deep Aquifer Zone 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Murrumbidgee Deep Aquifer Zone 2 | $150 | $150 | $150 | Steady |
| Murrumbidgee Deep Aquifer Zone 3 | - | $135 | - | Steady |
| Lower Murray Groundwater | $80 | $80 | $80 | Steady |
| Lower Lachlan Groundwater | $60 | $60 | $60 | Steady |
Current Permanent Market
Indicative pricing is as follows:
| Zone | Price per mL |
| Murrumbidgee | |
| High Security | $8,650 to $8,750 |
| General Security | $2,550 to $2,650 |
| Supplementary | $800 to $850 |
| NSW Murray Above Choke (Zone 10) | |
| High Security | $6,000 to $6,100 |
| General Security | $1,700 to $1,800 |
| NSW Murray Below Choke (Zone 11) | |
| High Security | $9,500 to $10,000 |
| General Security | $2,600 to $2,700 |
| VIC Murray Above Choke (Zone 6) | |
| High Reliability | $4,500 to $4,550 |
| Low Reliability | $750 to $850 |
| VIC Murray Below Choke (Zone 7) | |
| High Reliability | $7,700 to $8,000 |
| Low Reliability | $1,800 to $2,000 |
| SA Murray Class 3 | $8,100 to $8,200 |
| Murrumbidgee Deep Aquifer (zone dependent) | $3,800 to $4,200 |
| Lachlan (Upper & Lower) | |
| General Security | $1,800 to $1,900 |
| High Security | $4,500 to $4,550 |
| Lower Murray Deep Groundwater | $2,700 to $2,800 |
| Lower Lachlan Groundwater | $3,500 to $4,000 |
Seasonal Outlook
The BOM released an updated outlook on 14 May. The full outlook can be viewed here but, in summary, the long-range forecast for June to August.
- Rainfall is likely to be below average for parts of southern and eastern Australia.
- Daytime temperatures are likely to be above average for most of Australia except in parts of the north.
- Overnight temperatures are likely to be above average for most of Australia.
The information contained in this article is given for the purpose of providing general information only, and while Elders has exercised reasonable care, skill and diligence in its preparation, many factors (including environmental and seasonal) can impact its accuracy and currency. Accordingly, the information should not be relied upon under any circumstances and Elders assumes no liability for any loss consequently suffered. If you would like to speak to someone for tailored advice relating to any of the matters referred to in this article, please contact Elders.
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