Markets

Wooltrade buying activity limited by fluctuating market

Sheep Central, May 16, 2017

WOOLTRADE experienced limited buyer activity last week as the auction market continued to fluctuate.

But lines with low vegetable matter content made the best prices, consistent with physical auction sale demand.

Wooltrade market operations supervisor Tom Rookyard said 53 bales were sold last week as the auction market continued on its see-sawing path; opening slightly stronger on Wednesday and coming back sharply on Thursday.

He said broader microns slipped by 5-10 cents, while some finer types were back 15-20 cents.

“This was reflected in the AWEX Eastern Market Indicator gaining 5 cents on Wednesday, losing 15 cents on Thursday and closing at 1534c/kg clean. The West Australian indicator, lost 14 cents and then a further 19 cents to finish the week at 1527c/kg.

On Wooltrade, 18 micron fleece sold to 1395c/kg clean, or 2010c/kg greasy, and 19 micron wool made 1324c/kg greasy, or 1831c/kg clean. Fleece wool around 20 micron sold to 1238c/kg greasy or 1677c/kg clean.

Mr Rookyard said the top-priced lot online last week was a line of AAA Australian superfine 17.1 micron Merino fleece wool branded Broadacres/TYO. The lot offered by Landmark Melbourne had an average staple length of 88mm and a very low 0.5 percent vegetable matter content. It sold for 1505c/kg greasy or 2220c/kg clean.

The top crossbred fleece price on Wooltrade last week was achieved by a 24.6 micron line. The lot branded Valdemar was offered by Moses and Son and sold for 774c/kg greasy or 1027c/kg clean.

Mr Rookyard said about 37,000 bales are on offer in auctions nationally this week, with likely smaller volume on offer for the weeks to come.

“Recently the downward trends have been short lived.

“However, it will take renewed interest from all mills to prevent this market slide continuing.”

Source: Wooltrade.

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