EARLY January online wool sales indicate a positive outlook for the Australian wool market after the Christmas recess, according to Wooltrade market operations officer Tom Rookyard.

Mr Rookyard said over the Christmas and New Year break, “a trickle” of wool was traded online on AuctionsPlus and Wooltrade.

“However, in the first week of January, the final week leading up to the 2016 physical auctions opening Wooltrade saw 340 bales of grower wool traded online.

“What’s more, already leading up the opening of the physical auctions a further 380 bales have been sold online over the past 24 hours (before Monday January 11).”

Mr Rookyard said the Australian-US dollar exchange rate is now at an attractive level.

Over the past week online, an 11-bale clip of 18.8 micron fleece with a yield of 72.4 percent, an average staple length of 97mm, tensile strength of 38 Newtons/kilotex and 0.4 percent vegetable matter content sold for 1030c/kg greasy or 1423c/kg clean.

A seven-bale line of 19.4 micron fleece sold for 980c/kg greasy or 1412c/kg clean. The line had a yield of 69.4pc, an average staple length of 91mm, tensile strength of 42N/kt and 0.9pc vegetable matter content.

A nine-bale line of 20.7 micron fleece sold for 984c/kg greasy or 1378c/kg clean. The line yielded 71.4pc, with an average staple length of 71mm, tensile strength of 51N/kt and 0.6pc vm content.

An 11-bale line of 21 micron fleece with a yield of 66.3pc, average staple length of 104mm and tensile strength of 38N/kt and 0.5pc vm content sold for897c/kg greasy or 1353c/kg clean.

The top-priced lot was a two-bale line of 15.3µ micron Merino combing weaners fleece, 70mm long, yielding 64.7pc, with a tensile strength of 35N/kt and 2.2pc vm. This lot made 975c/kg greasy or 1507c/kg clean. It was branded CP/TAM and offered by Jemalong Wool.

Skirtings continued to be in demand with an 11-bale line of 18.6µ Merino pieces, 91mm long and yielding 58.8pc, making 799c/kg greasy or 1359c/kg clean. This lot was branded GBK/ILLABO and offered by Moses and Son Wool.

“Looking forward, reasonable rainfall across much of the Eastern States may impact on shearing and wool receives into store.

Also, predictions surrounding the Australian wool supply have forecasted a further decline in production,” Mr Rookyard said. All three selling centres, Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle are operating this week.

Click here for last week’s Wooltrade top prices summary.

Source: Wooltrade.