ONLINE wool buying strengthened on AuctionsPlus Wool late last week, as prices for some wool types improved at physical auctions.

The online sales coincided with a 5-cent lift in the benchmark AWEX Eastern Market Indicator to 1781c/kg clean after auctions in Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle.

AuctionsPlus commercial operations officer Ed Murphy said a slight change in sentiment was seen at auctions last week as crossbred fleece and carding prices lifted. Medium Merino wool prices also improved slightly. AWEX reported that brokers passed in 10.9 percent of the 35,326-bale offering.

Mr Murphy said online buying also strengthened late last week, with 111 bales sold on AuctionsPlus Wool, including 99 on Friday afternoon. A further 82 bales were sold up to this Tuesday morning.

The top price paid on AuctionsPlus Wool in the past week was 1464c/kg greasy, or 2097c/kg clean, for a 13-bale line of 20.1 micron of AAAM from pain relief-treated (PR) sheep. The line yielded 69.8pc, with an average staple length of 102mm, a tensile strength of 36 Newtons/kilotex and 1.8pc vegetable matter content.

A 10-bale line of 16.1 micron AAAM (PR) sold for 1061c/kg clean, or 2029c/kg clean. The line had a yield of 52.3pc, a staple length of 61mm, tensile strength of 24N/kt and 1.1pc vm.

A 7-bale line of 17.7 micron AAAM, with a yield of 61.1pc, average staple length of 71mm, tensile strength of 36N/kt and 5.9pc vm sold for 1240c/kg greasy, or 2029c/kg clean.

A 5-bale line of 19 micron AAAM (PR) sold for 1443c/kg greasy, or 2141c/kg clean. The line yielded 67.4pc, had an average staple length of 98mm, a tensile strength of 30N/kt and 2.6pcx vm.

A 4-bale line of 25.6 micron AAAFX, with a yield of 71.5pc and 1.6pc vm sold for 900c/kg greasy, or 1259c/kg clean.

With a similar offering this week of about 35,300 bales, seasonal conditions continuing to affect supply in the foreseeable future and the Christmas break looming, it is expected that the auctions will see some stronger competition, Mr Murphy said.

Source: AuctionsPlus.