WOOL buyers showed limited interest in the AuctionsPlus online catalogue last week as the market remained dominated by low-yielding fleece lines.

AuctionsPlus Wool sold 52 bales last week and the top-priced online lot was a seven-bale line of 19 micron AAA Merino fleece that sold for 1700c/kg greasy, or 2237c/kg clean.

The line yielded 76 percent, with an average staple length of 93mm, a tensile strength of 28 Newtons/kilotex and 0.2pc vegetable matter content. This line offered by Elders and branded Bimbimbie/PN.

AuctionsPlus operations manager Tom Rookyard said the physical auction wool market on face value appeared to continue its spiral downward on a trend that started in mid-February.

“However, many are stating that this is not a fair representation of the market, with current supply mostly made up of low-yielding drought-affected wools which are impacting on the indicators heavily.”

Although the AWEX Eastern Market Indicator fell seven cents to 1936c/kg clean last week, or US1387c/kg, good quality wools continue to draw strong buyer interest, he said.

“The difficulty for overseas mills is that low yielding wools (40-60 percent), traditionally can be blended in with high yielding wools over 65pc.

“However, with those high yielding wools scarce, top makers struggle to make a blend commercially viable,” he said.

At AuctionsPlus Wool last week, a seven-bale line of 15.4 micron non-mulesed Merino fleece sold for 1260c/kg greasy, or 2066c/kg clean. The line yielded 61pc, with a staple length of 60mm, tensile strength of 25N/kt and 3pc vm.

A five-bale line of 17.4 micron Merino weaners wool with a yield of 60.2pc, staple length of 54mm and 1.3pc vm sold for 1250c/kg greasy or 1250c/kg clean.

A seven-bale line of 18.3 micron AAM made 1650c/kg greasy, or 2298c/kg clean. It yielded 71.8pc, with a staple length of 102mm, tensile strength of 25N/kt and 0.7pc vm.

A five-bale line of 20.1 micron AAAM sold for 1436c/kg greasy, or 2192c/kg clean. The line yielded 65.5pc, with an average staple length of 65mm, tensile strength of 65N/kt and 0.8pc vm.

Crossbred wools sell well online

Mr Rookyard said the crossbred market is continuing to get strong buyer support and a 14-bale line of 27.1 micron wool sold for 960c/kg greasy or 1287c/kg clean online last week. The line yielded 74.6pc with 0.5pc vm.

A two-bale line of 24.8pc AAAFXLMS sold for 595c/kg greasy, or 878c/kg clean. It yielded 67.8pc with 4.2pc vm.

A five-bale line of 27.3 micron AAAFXLMS with a yield of 65.7pc and 5.7pc vm made 507c/kg greasy, or 772c/kg clean.

Mr Rookyard said while in relative terms the wool market is still very strong, the strong mutton market and dry conditions continue to put pressure on growers. Looking forward, the Sydney wool auctions at the Sydney Royal Easter Show this week are offering just under 10,000 bales and nationally there are 42,000 bales on offer.

“Following this, the wool auctions will take a break for Easter.

“It is expected that once again good quality wools will see strong demand, while poor qualities will not.”

Source: AuctionsPlus.