ONLINE wool offerings met keen demand last week as the Australian auction market benchmark reached an historical high.

With the AWEX Eastern Market Indicator peaking at 1546c/kg clean, Wooltrade market operations supervisor Tom Rookyard said supply constrictions are pressuring overseas mills.

“Good quality low vegetable matter wool types have seen red hot demand in the recent weeks.

“This is a result of the good pasture conditions across the eastern states increasing burr and grass seed in fleeces,” he said.

Online supplies were sought keenly by buyers and exporters, with 225 bales traded on Wooltrade last week.

Mr Rookyard said the top-priced lot online was a single bale line of 13.9 micron Australian superfine Merino fleece, which had the very low 0.1 percent vegetable matter content that sold for 4750c/kg greasy, or 6137c/kg clean. The lot yielded 77.4pc with an average staple length of 82mm and a tensile strength of 46 Newtons/kilotex. It was branded Beltana and offered by Landmark Melbourne

A three-bale line of 17.1 micron fleece sold for 1786c/kg greasy, or 2366c/kg clean. It yielded 75.5pc, was 80mm long, with a tensile strength of 36N/kt and 0.2pc vm.

A five-bale line of 18.2pc fleece with a yield of 77.4pc, length of 82mm, tensile strength of 40N/kt and 0.5pc vm that sold for 1764c/kg clean, or 2279c/kg greasy.

A four-bale line of 19 micron wool sold for 1299c/kg greasy, or 1824c/kg clean. The line yielded 71.2pc, was 93mm long, with a tensile strength of 18N/kt and 0.6pc vm.

A 14-bale line of 21.2 micron Merino fleece with a yield of 69.4pc, staple length of 106mm, tensile strength of 38N/kt and 0.4pc vm made 1027c/kg greasy, or 1480c/kg clean.

A two-bale line of 23.5 micron fleece sold for 770c/kg greasy, or 1186c/kg clean. The line yielded 64.9pc, was 101mm long, with a tensile strength of 31N/kt and 7.2pc vm.

Skirtings were topped by a two-bale line of 17 micron Australian superfine Merino pieces with 1.2pc vm sold for 1466c/kg greasy, or 2153c/kg clean. The line yielded 68.1pc with an average staple length of 83mm and tensile strength of 37N/kt. It was branded Handroyd and offered by Roberts of Tasmania.

Mr Rookyard said there are 46,000 bales on offer nationally this week.

“As has been the case with the sheep and cattle markets, supply is continuing to be the driving factor in pushing the market up.

“Shortly the West Australian wool auctions will cut back to fortnightly sales, which will only continue to put pressure on supply,” he said.

“The market could be approaching a tipping point when wool is too expensive for some overseas mills.”

Click here for the latest Wooltrade Top Prices Summary.