WOOL demand increased online over the past week and in recent days before physical auctions resumed after the Easter break.

AuctionsPlus Wool operations manager Tom Rookyard said the physical market closed in a relatively buoyant position before Easter after a steady decline in prices during March.

“However, the Easter break did not slow any wool purchases online with 330 bales selling throughout the week.

“The finer end of the market was in demand, with 61 percent of the sales being 19 micron or finer,” he said.

Mr Rookyard said AuctionsPlus Wool had already sold 84 bales by Monday afternoon.

“Buyer demand is already evident and directed once again at the finer end of the market; however, there has been several lines of 24 and 25 micron fine crossbred wool sold as well.

“Reports from the physical auctions suggest that the weaker Australian dollar will entice overseas mills this week,” he said.

“The only potential dampener on the sale could be the tender drought-affected wools which is unsurprisingly making up much of the offerings.”

The top-priced lot online over the past week was a three-bale line of 16.3 micron EXSUPAFM Merino fleece wool that sold for 1770c/kg greasy or 2376c/kg clean. The line yielded 74.5pc, with a very low vegetable matter content of 0.3pc. It had an average staple length of 97mm, a tensile strength of 31 Newtons/kilotex and was offered by Arcadian Wool under the brand Greenbank/Carngham.

A five-bale line of 17.6 micron Merino fleece sold for 1715c/kg greasy, or 2340c/kg clean. The line yielded 73.3pc with a staple length of 95mm, tensile strength of 34N/kt and 0.6pc vm.

A 12-bale line of 18.1 micron AAAM with a yield of 71.9pc, staple length of 90mm, a tensile strength of 32N/kt and 1.1pcv vm made 1685c/kg greasy, or 2344c/kg clean.

A five-bale line of 19.3 micron Merino fleece sold for 1700c/kg greasy, or 2304c/kg clean. The line yielded 73.8pc, with a  staple length of 85mm, tensile strength of 57N/kt and 0.6pc vm.

A 16-bale line of 20.1 micron AAAM with a yield of 66pc, average staple length of 88mm, tensile strength of 31N/kt and 2.3pc vm made 1469c/kg greasy, or 2226c/kg clean.

A two-bale line of 21.7 micron Merino fleece sold for 1425c/kg greasy, or 2230c/kg clean. The line yielded 63.9pc with a staple length of 81mm, tensile strength fo 27N/kt and 0.3pc vm.

An eight-bale line of 22.8 micron strong Merino fleece with a yield of 57.4pc, staple length of 81MM, tensile strength of 28N/kt and 1.1pc vm sold for 1200c/kg greasy, or 2091c/kg clean.

Mr Rookyard said there was also demand by buyers and exporters for fine Merino pieces online.

A five-bale of 16.5 micron Merino pieces sold for 1190c/kg greasy, or 2031c/kg clean. The line yielded 58.6pc, with a staple length of 53mm and 1.3pc vm.

A six-bale line of 17.7 micron Merino pieces with a yield of 58.8pc, a staple length of 80mm, tensile strength of 33N/kt and 4.1pc vm sold for 1225c/kg greasy, or 2083c/kg clean. The lot was offered by Primaries of WA and branded Towri.

“Looking forward, the wool auctions resume this week with 46,000 bales to be offered across the nation.

“The following weeks see a dwindling supply, with 35,000 then 34,000 and then 32,000 bales available over the following three weeks,’ he said.