LATE Wooltrade sales last week point to a strengthening market, although only 156 bales were trade online as overall physical market prices dipped.

Prices corrected at auctions in Fremantle, Sydney and Melbourne as the $A-US exchange rate rose, bringing the AWEX Eastern Market Indicator back 15 cents to 1305c/kg clean.

Wooltrade market operations supervisor Tom Rookyard said the top online price last week was 1545c/kg clean or 1046c/kg greasy for a six-bale line of 16.9 micron Merino fleece wool. The line yielded 67.7 percent, with an average staple length of 79mm, a tensile strength of 36 Newtons/kilotex and 1pc vegetable matter content. It was branded Benwerrin and offered by Primaries of WA.

In other Wooltrade sales, a 15-bales line of 17.3 micron fleece made 1532c/kg clean or 1054c/kg greasy. It yielded 68.8pc, was 78mm long, with a tensile strength of 32N/kt and 0.6pc vm.

A 14-bale 18.7 micron line with a yield of 66.2pc, length of 91mm, tensile strength of 33N/kt and 1.4pc vm made 1541c/kg clean or 1020c/kg greasy.

An eight-bale line of 19.4 micron fleece made 1472c/kg clean or 1060c/kg greasy. It yielded 72pc, was 110mm long, with a tensile strength of 37N/kt and 2.7pc vm.

An 11-bale 20.2 micron line sold for 1421c/kg clean or 1022c/kg greasy. It yielded 71.9pc, with an average staple length of 115c/kg, a tensile strength of 36N/kt and 2.4pc vm.

Merino belly wool sold on Wooltrade up to 810c/kg greasy or 1429c/kg clean for an eight-bale 17.7 micron line that yielded 56.7pc, was 65mm long, with a tensile strength of 29N/kt and 1.6pc vm. The line was offered by Roberts Tasmania and branded Ckeamside.

Mr Rookyard said only about 39,000 bales will be offered in Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle this week.

“In addition to this, the Australian dollar has taken a dip from where it closed last week.

“This indicates a potentially stronger market.”

Mr Rookyard said 70pc of the wool sold online last week was traded on Friday and Saturday, after the physical auctions closed and when the exchange rate began its fall, indicating the market might strengthen.

Click here to see the latest Wooltrade Top Prices Summary.

Source: Wooltrade