ONLINE wool seller AuctionsPlus enjoyed increased sales last week, especially of medium micron Merino lines, as the physical auction market lifted.

AuctionsPlus sold 434 bales during the week as the AWEX Eastern Market Indicator rose 67 cents to 1609c/kg clean or in US$ terms, 1086c/kg.

AuctionsPlus’ top price last week was 1400c/kg greasy or 2121c/kg clean for two bales of 15 micron AAAM that yielded 66pc with an average staple length of 80mm, a tensile strength of 31 Newtons/kilotex and 0.6pc vegetable matter content.

Stronger demand for the medium Merino types led to 41pc of the 434 bales comprising 19-20µ micron wool, with a top price of 1271c/kg greasy or 1850c/kg clean for an 18-bale line of 20.5 micron wool that yielded 68.7pc, with an average staple length of 93mm, a tensile strength of 29N/kt and 0.9pc vm..

A seven-bale line of 16.9 micron Merino wool from flock that had ceased mulesing sold for 1255c/kg greasy or 1937c/kg clean on AuctionsPlus. The line yielded 64.8pc with a staple length of 92mm, tensile strength of 29Newtons/kilotex and 1.3pc vm.

A non-mulesed nine-bale line of 17.7 micron wool with a yield of 73pc, staple length of 84mm, a tensile strength of 31N/kt and0.7pc vm sold for 1397c/kg greasy, or 1914c/kg clean.

A seven-bale line of 26.1 micron AAAFX with a yield of 74.8pc, staple length of 111mm, a tensile strength of 35N/kt and 1.2pc vm sold for 905c/kg greasy, or 1210c/kg clean.

AuctionsPlus has sold 2836 bales up to September 30.

Since its low of 1342c/kg in early September, the EMI has experienced a 20 percent upward turnaround.

This week’s physical auction offering of 41,000 bales represents a 49pc increase on last week. This suggest a level of confidence heading into next week, with the increased volume enough to test the supposed increased demand, AuctionsPlus said.