ONLINE wool purchases increased on AuctionsPlus over the past week, possibly because of the lower industry-wide offerings.

AuctionsPlus Wool project manager Tom Rookyard said the company’s online auction platform achieved a complete clearance of the 83 bales over 18 lots offered by Nutrien Ag Solutions from Melbourne.

He said the usual buyers competed throughout the auction, creating healthy competition for the sale. The top priced lot online this week was a line of 17.4 micron AAAA Merino fleece with a very low 0.1 percent vegetable matter content that sold for 1105c/kg greasy. It was one of 13 lots sold by the Nutrien client under the brand Clebyarra.

Online offer board results also good

In the seven days to 28 May, AuctionsPlus sold 348 bales on its offer board, 301 bales more than was sold in the previous week.

“The increased online interaction falls in line with stronger clearances at the live auctions and may also be a result of lower supply,” Mr Rookyard said.

The 15 micron Merino fleece lines sold from 1220-1465c/kg greasy or 2044-2170c/kg clean, and the 18 micron Merino fleece offered made to 1045c/kg greasy or 1422c/kg clean. The 19 micron Merino fleece wool offered sold for up to 955c/kg greasy or 1285c/kg clean. The top price sold online was a line of 15.3 micron Merino fleece that made 1465c/kg greasy or 2170c/kg clean. It was branded Langowan and was offered by Elders Melbourne.

Mr Rookyard said the AWEX Eastern Market Indicator lifting 15 cents to 1170c/kg clean this week, as buyer competition for the relatively small national offering of 18,828 bales helped drive the price upwards. Passed in rates also decreased by 4.7 percent to finish at 7.9pc.

“Next week’s offering is expected to drop again, with only 17,136 bales on offer so far.

“The ongoing drop in supply will likely bring a bit of stability to the EMI in the short-term,” he said.

“The 16.5-19.5 micron wool lines all rose by over 20c/kg in the north, with 19.5 micron fleece rising by 29 cents.”

Source: AuctionsPlus.