STRONG online enquiry for wool is continuing in line with general market demand, with more than 100 bales sold on Wooltrade this week.

“The buyers are probably seeking wool types that are now scarce at the auctions,” Wooltrade market operations supervisor Tom Rookyard said.

Wooltrade sold 282 bales last week as buyers looked to fill orders and the physical auction market continued to make positive gains. The AWEX Eastern Market Indicator last week gained 14 cents to close at 1437c/kg clean and the Western Australian indicator added 16 cents to finish at 1472 cents, Mr Rookyard said.

The top-priced lot on Wooltrade last week was a six-bale line of 16.3 micron AAAAM super fine Merino weaners’ fleece that sold for 1450c/kg greasy, or 2089c/kg clean. The line had an average staple length of 67mm, a yield of 69.4 percent, with a tensile strength of 51 Newtons/kilotex and 3.7pc vegetable matter content. It was branded HH/Roseneath and offered by Elders Brisbane.

“It is pleasing to see the top price for this week going to a Queensland clip,” Mr Rookyard said.

An eight-bale line of 17.5 micron fleece sold for 1450c/kg greasy, or 2054c/kg clean. The line yielded 70.6pc, was 77mm long, with a tensile strength of 47N/kt with 2.2pc vm.

A 15-bale line of 18.4 micron fleece with a yield of 71.1pc, average staple length of 77mm, tensile strength of 28N/kt and 0.2pc vm sold for 1305c/kg greasy, or 1835c/kg clean.

A three-bale line of 19 micron wool sold for 1363c/kg greasy, or 1815c/kg clean. The line yielded 75.1pc, was 92mm long, with a tensile strength of 46N/kt and 1pc vm.

An eight-bale line of 20 micron fleece with a yield of 72.7pc, an average staple length of 115mm, tensile strength of 30N/kt and 2.6pc vm sold for 1050c/kg greasy, or 1444c/kg clean.

A 12-bale line of 21.7 micron Merino fleece sold for 972c/kg greasy, or 1348c/kg clean. The line yielded 72.1pc, was 105mm long with a tensile strength of 22N/kt and 3.2pc vm.

A nine-bale line of 24.2 micron Merino fleece wool sold for 900c/kg greasy, or 1135c/kg clean. It yielded 79.3pc, with an average staple length of 123mm, a tensile strength of 34N/kt and 0.1pc vm.

The cardings category was topped by a seven-bale line of 17.9 micron Merino crutchings with a yield of 58.2pc and 0.5pc vm that sold for 735c/kg greasy, or 1280c/kg clean. This lot was offered by Australian Wool Network and branded Burra Downs.

Mr Rookyard said about 48,000 bales will be offered at physical auctions this week, up 3000 on last week.

“There are early indications that the coarser and more burry autumn supply may have met its current peak for price.”

Source: Wooltrade.