AUCTIONSPLUS Wool reported modest buyer activity online last week, as physical auction market supplies exceeded buyer requirements.

AuctionsPlus Wool market operations supervisor Tom Rookyard said 93 bales were sold last week as the auction market continued to slide over the past week.

“The question is whether it has reached a level which is enticing to overseas buyers.

“Reports from the physical auctions is that the wool on offer at this time of the year is lessor in style and strength, and carrying vegetable matter,” he said.

“Subsequently, all types were cheaper but interestingly, it was the broader end that held its own.”

The benchmark AWEX Eastern Market Indicator lost 20 cents on Wednesday and 7 cents on Thursday to close at 1751c/kg clean. The West Australian indicator lost 25 cents to close off at 1834c/kg clean.

The top-priced lot online last week was a nine-bale line of 18.4 micron AAAM Merino fleece wool that sold for 1420c/kg greasy, or 2205c/kg clean. The line yielded 64.4 percent, with an average staple length of 98mm, a tensile strength of 26 Newtons/kilotex, and 3.3pc vegetable matter content. The lot was offered by Landmark Queensland and branded Wilgunya.

A four-bale line of 17.7 micron Merino lambs wool sold for 1380c/kg greasy, or 2323c/kg clean. The line had an average staple length of 68mm, a yield of 59.4, tensile strength of 42N/kt and 3.6pc vm.

An 11-bale line of 19.9 micron AAAM, with a staple length of 108mm, yield of 69.6pc, tensile strength of 45N/kt and 2.5pc vm made 1354c/kg greasy, or 1945c/kg clean.

A 10-bale line of 20 micron Merino fleece sold for 1348c/kg greasy, or 1956c/kg clean. The line yielded 69.9pc, with a staple length of 103mm, tensile strength of 44N/kt and 3pc vm.

A seven-bale line of 21.6 micron AAAM with a yield of 66.8pc, staple length of 101mm, a tensile strength of 32N/kt and 2.1pc vm sold for 1265c/kg greasy, or 1894c/kg clean.

Mr Rookyard said there are about 42,000 bales on offer across all three selling centres this week. After this week’s auction sale at Yennora, the next Sydney wool auctions will be held at the Royal Easter Show. This will be held in the sheep and wool pavilion, with an estimated 12,000 bales to be offered.

“No doubt this larger quantity on offer will test the depth of demand and the buyers’ pockets for these average style types,” he said.

Source: AuctionsPlus.