ONLINE wool buyer enquiry for finer micron Merino wool and short combing lambs fleece was limited yet consistent on the AuctionsPlus Wool platform last week.

AuctionsPlus operations manager Tom Rookyard said 56 bales were sold online, with 18 micron fleece selling to 1710c/kg greasy or 2471c/kg clean, and 19 micron wool making 1573c/kg greasy or 2435c/kg clean.

“The past week saw the wool market attempt stabilize itself, as the drought continues to offer no respite for growers, brokers and the rest of the industry.

“The physical auctions saw a retraction in fleece prices; however, other wool types remained in good demand.”

The AWEX Eastern Market Indicator last week dropped to 2008c/kg clean or 1415 cents in US$ terms, overall losing 8 cents during the three days of sales, with a pass-in rate of 9.3 percent.

Mr Rookyard said the top price lot sold online last week was a three-bale line of 15.4 micron SUPAAA FINE fleece wool branded Old Mill offered by Australian Wool Network. The line sold for 2155c/kg greasy or 2981c/kg clean with a yield of 72.3pc, average staple length of 77mm, tensile strength of 40 Newtons/kilotex and 0.2pc vegetable matter content.

An eight-bale line of short 40mm-long 17.4 micron lambs fleece sold for 1215c/kg greasy or 1827c/kg clean. The line yielded 66.5pc with 0.4pc vm.

An 18.6 micron eight-bale line of AAAM with a yield of 69.2pc, staple length of 101mm, tensile strength of 33N/kt and 0.8pc vm made 1710c/kg greasy, or 2471c/kg clean.

A 12-bale line of 19.4 micron AAAM sold for 1573c/kg greasy, or 2435c/kg clean. The line yielded 64.6pc, with an average staple length of 88mm, tensile strength of 39N/kt and 2.4pc vm.

“Looking forward, it appears that good quality wools are going command strong buyer and exporter support, as the limited supply of this wool is going to be an ongoing factor.

“The crossbred market continues to see strong interest,” Mr Rookyard said.

“This can be attributed to a number of factors, including a current weakening of demand at the consumer level for the fine Merino fleece.

“The mills are looking to keep their processing machinery running on a cheaper alternative, and are thus focussing on the crossbred types.”

Source: AuctionsPlus.