FORWARD wool market trading continued with limited volumes this week, with firm bidding the spot auction market slipped for the second week in a row.

All Merino qualities lost around 10 cents at auctions this week, with 18 micron wool most affected and losing 20 cents.

Trades in the forwards were light, with growers keenest on the finer qualities. The 17 micron contract was executed at 2240 cents for June and November and 17.5 micron traded at 2060 cents for April 2022.

Growers are understandably more comfortable hedging at levels in the higher percentile ranges. This has played out since Christmas, with 75 percent of trades on the forwards being 19.5 microns and finer.

It does call into question why the volumes executed in the 18 and 19 micron contracts have been so limited. Less than 1pc of the underlying volume is currently being hedged.

Limited quantities are currently being bid into the first half of 2022, with 19 micron at 1630 cents and 21 micron at 1300 cents.

With 46,000 bales up at auctions next week, we expect forward levels to hold as the spot market continues its steady range trade pattern of the last four months.

This week’s trades

June 17 micron                                                               2240 cents                        7.5 tonnes

Aug 21 micron                                                                1280 cents                         2 tonnes

Nov 17 micron                                                               2240 cents                        5 tonnes

Jan 2022 19 micron                                                       1630 cents                        5 tonnes

April 2022 17.5 micron                                                 2060 cents                        3.75 tonnes

Total 23.25 tonnes