WOOL buyers continued to supplement auction purchases with online buying last week.

AuctionsPlus reported that despite the physical auction market’s general retraction, 56 bales were sold online during the week.

AuctionsPlus operations manager Tom Rookyard said unsurprisingly, drought-affected low-yielding wool continued to dominate the physical auction offerings.

The AWEX Eastern Market Indicator retracted by 16 cents to 1947c/kg clean last week, or in US dollar terms 1382c/kg. The national pass-in level was 11.8 percent.

“Reports from buyers and exporters surrounds mills adjusting to these drought-affected wools, which impact directly on costs of processing and efficiency.

“In addition to this, supply appears to be an ongoing issue, highlighted by the recent AWTA results which reported a 10pc drop year-on-year for bales and weights,” Mr Rookyard said.

On AuctionsPlus, the top-priced lot on a clean basis was a bale of 14.9 micron AAAFM Merino fleece that sold for 1880c/kg greasy, or 2690c/kg clean. The line yielded 69.9pc, with an average staple length of 72mm, tensile strength of 19 Newtons/kilotex and 0.6pc vegetable matter content. The lot was branded Moorilla/Min and was by offered by Elders Melbourne.

A bale of 15.4 micron Merino fleece sold for 1910c/kg greasy, or 2578c/kg clean. It yielded 74.1pc, was 87mm long, with a tensile strength of 29N/kt and 0.3pc vm.

A six-bale line of 16.1 micron Merino weaners fleece sold for 1539c/kg greasy, or 2350c/kg clean. The line yielded 65.5pc, with an average staple length of 62mm, tensile strength of 31N/kt and 1pc vm.

A seven-bale line of 18.2 micron AAAM with a yield of 55.1pc, length of 86mm, tensile strength of 31N/kt and 5.2pc vm sold for 1258c/kg greasy, or 2283c/kg clean.

The top online crossbred sale of the week was 555c/kg greasy, or 752c/kg clean, for a five-bale line of 28.7 micron lambs fleece. The line yielded 73.8pc.

Mr Rookyard said Merino pieces sold online last week for up 1574c/kg greasy, or 2399c/kg clean. The two-bale line of Merino weaners pieces yielded 65.6pc, with a staple length of 68mm, tensile strength of 34N/kt and 0.3pc vm. The line was branded Wooling and offered by Landmark Melbourne.

“Looking forward, there are reports and an expectation that the market will strengthen this week off the back of the smaller supply of 38,000 bales.”

Source: AuctionsPlus.