AUCTIONSPLUS last week sold its largest volume of wool online since January 2020, with 868 bales traded as the industry price benchmark lifted.

AuctionsPlus Wool project manager Tom Rookyard said the impact of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic on the Australian wool market appeared to have slowed last week.

“A rush of wool was sold online on AuctionsPlus as the AWEX Eastern Market Indicator poked it nose back up above the 1300c/kg mark,” Mr Rookyard said.

Last week, the EMI lost 6 cents on Tuesday and then gained 20 cents on Wednesday to close off at 1301c/kg clean. The West Australian indicator gained 11 cents and then 20 cents across the two days to close at 1384c/kg clean.

“Last week was the first time since late February that the passed-in rate has been below 15 percent as the market had its first bullish period in several weeks.

“A combination a cheap Australian dollar and an attractive market has seen increased overseas enquiry,” he said.

“The volatility of the market has swung back in the positive terms for the industry.”

The top-priced lot sold online was a three-bale line of non-mulesed 16.6 micron AAAAM Merino fleece wool that sold for 1345c/kg greasy, or 1801c/kg clean. The line yielded 74.7pc, had an average staple length of 84mm, a tensile strength of 28 Newtons/kilotex and contained 0.5pc vegetable matter content (vm). It was offered by Australian Wool Network and branded Ringwood/WN.

A two-bale line of 15.8 micron non-declared AAAM with a yield of 66.6pc, a length of 59mm, tensile strength of 22N/kt and 0.7pc vm sold for 1202c/kg greasy, or 1805c/kg clean.

An eight-bale line of 17.1 micron AAASUP Merino fleece sold for 1216c/kg greasy, or 1694c/kg clean. It yielded71.8pc, was 81mm long, with a tensile strength of 25N/kt and 0.6pc vm.

A three-bale line of 18 micron Merino wool with a yield of 67.1pc, staple length of 97mm, tensile strength of 19N/kt and 0.4pc vm made 1020c/kg greasy, or 1520c/kg clean.

A five-bale line of 19.7 micron AAAM made 1105c/kg greasy, or 1516c/kg clean. The line yielded 72.9pc, was 86mm long, with a tensile strength of 44N/kt and 0.7pc vm.

A 14-bale line of 20.5 micron AAAM with a yield of 71.9pc, a staple length of 102mm, a tensile strength of 30N/kt and 0.6pc vm sold for 1050c/kg greasy, or 1460c/kg clean.

A four-bale line of 21.1 micron wool sold for 1003c/kg greasy, or 1445c/kg clean. It had a yield of 69.4pc, an average staple length of 97mm, tensile strength of 34N/kt and 0.5pc vm.

“Looking forward, an estimated 21,000 bales are to be offered across all three centres in a one-day sale on Wednesday (today).

“Sentiments around the auctions suggest that the small offering will keep the market at its current level,” Mr Rookyard said.

He said AuctionsPlus will run its first online wool auction on Thursday morning opening at 10am, with 44 lots to be offered from brokers Elders, Nutrien, Australian Wool Network and Jemalong Wools.