ONLINE wool buyers favoured fine Merino lines in the AuctionsPlus catalogue, as the AWEX Eastern Market Indicator peaked at 2027c/kg clean last week.

AuctionsPlus market operations officer Ed Murphy said the largest gains on the AWEX auctions were made by 17-21 micron fleece wools as demand for Merino types was unwavering.

“A similar trend was followed online with 276 bales sold and 90 percent of this was 19 micron and finer.”

The top prices on AuctionsPlus last week included 18800c/kg greasy, or 2961c/kg clean, for a bale of 16.6 micron AAAM from sheep declared as mulesed with pain relief. The line tested with a yield of 60.8 percent, a n average staple length of 70mm, tensile strength of 43 Newtons/kilotex and 1.4pc vegetable matter content.

An eight-bale line of 17.6 micron non-declared SUPAAAFM with a yield of 79.3pc, staple length of 89mm, tensile strength of 41N/kt and 0.3pc vm sold for 2150c/kg greasy and 2711c/kg clean.

A four-bale line of 18.1 micron SUPAAAFINE made 1817c/kg greasy, or 2465c/kg clean. It yielded 73.7pc, was 84mm long, with tensile strength of 35N/kt and 0.3pc vm.

A nine-bale line of AAAM with a yield of 74.3pc, staple length of 75mm, tensile strength of 48N/kt and 0.5pc vm sold for 1675c/kg greasy, or 2254c/kg clean.

Mr Murphy said the top price online for crossbred fleece wool was 730c/kg greasy, or 971c/kg clean, for a three-bale line of 26.5 micron AAAFX. The line yielded 75.2pc with 0.1pc vm.

“With a decrease in offerings this week to 27,000 bales and just the eastern and southern selling centres open for auction this week and the western selling centre on fortnightly sales, it is expected the same strong competition will be seen from auction outset and throughout,” he said.

Source: AuctionsPlus.