Fine wool prices improved in some auction centres this week. Image – AWEX.

WOOL prices generally steadied in Australia this week, with improvements in fine and medium Merino fleece and carding type values in some auction centres.

AWEX senior market analyst Lionel Plunkett said there were minimal price movements across most Merino types and descriptions nationally.

In Sydney, the Micron Price Guides for 16.5-17 micron Merino fleece improved 25-38c/kg clean, and rose 30 cents Merino cardings. In Melbourne, the 19 micron MPG rose 19 cents.

Mr Plunkett said the main buyer interest focussed on the better style wools and those with favourable additional measurement results, in particular wools with low CVH (variation in Hauter length).

“As a result of the good support in these types, they recorded very little change for the series.

“In contrast, the lower style, lower yielding wools and those with poor additional results (in particular high CVHs) did not garner the same support and were highly irregular, tending cheaper,” he said.

“These wools accounted for the majority of the of fleece wools that were passed in and also were a large factor in the overall negative movements in the some of the individual Micron Price Guides (MPGs).

“In the previous 10 selling days prior to this series, the EMI moved a total of 561 cents (in both positive and negative directions), an average movement of 56 cents per day,” Mr Plunkett said.

“The stability of this week’s market is highlighted by the marginal movements in the EMI.

“The EMI lost 9 cents over the two selling days, an average of only 4.5 cents per day,” he said.

“The EMI closed the week at 1150 cents, a fall of only 0.8 percent for the series.

“Worth noting, due to the strengthening of the Australian dollar, when viewed in US dollar terms, the EMI managed a positive movement, the EMI added US2 cents, closing the week at US846 cents,” Mr Plunkett said.

The crossbred sector did not attract the same level of support as the merinos, pushing prices down, he said.

“The MPGs for 26 to 28 micron were reduced by between 15 and 40 cents.

“These losses contributed to the overall fall in the EMI.”

Fibre diameter and vegetable matter increasing

Australian Wool Innovation trade consultant Scott Carmody said a good spread of purchasing interest was evident this week as processors, indent operators and traders were all active.

“As prices lowered or buyers filled current requirements, there was a quick buyer replacement that stepped in and helped maintain the healthy competition and price levels, indicative of strong order books present at the moment,” he said.

Super fine (18.5 micron and finer) Merino fleece and skirting types were the again well supported with better tested types up to 25c/kg clean dearer, but poorer wools barely maintained their rates. He said 19.5 micron was strongly sought and gained 15 cents, whilst the 20.5-23 micron wools were 10 cents cheaper. Crossbreds were out of favour and fell 45-70 cents,” Mr Carmody said.

“Improved growing conditions across most of Australia are becoming evident in the wools now hitting show floors, with a noticeable increase in fibre diameter and vegetable matter in Merino types broader than 20 microns, as a direct consequence of a better season in most areas.”

AuctionsPlus sells 331 bales online

AuctionsPlus said sales on it online offer board remained steady, with 331 bales selling. 17µ micron wool sold up to 1155c/kg greasy, or 1280c/kg dry. 18µ micron wool sold to a top of 1085c/kg, or 1499c/kg dry. The top priced lot was a line of 17.2 micron Merino fleece AAAM wool with an average staple length of 93mm and 0.5 percent of vegetable matter that sold for 1280c/kg greasy, or 1785c/kg clean. The line was branded “Brendabilla/YNG” and offered by Beecher Wool Services.

Next week’s national open cry auction offering is set to increase with currently 41,822 bales available to the trade in Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle.

Click here to read the latest AWEX Micron Price Guides.