ONLINE wool sellers benefited from strong overseas demand and the weaker Australian dollar last week as buyers continued to show interest in sourcing suitable crossbred clips.

AuctionsPlus operations manager Tom Rookyard said the weaker Australian dollar coupled with renewed interest from overseas mills impacted on the market positively for growers last week.

The AWEX Eastern Market Indicator closed at 1934c/kg clean last week, 196 cents above its level this time last year.

“Buyer interest spilled over to AuctionsPlus Wool, with 291 bales selling online.

“Strong overseas interest, in particular from India and China coupled with a lack of quality supply, saw buyers seeking crossbred fleece wool, with 133 bales selling,” Mr Rookyard said.

The top price online this week was 1620c/kg greasy, or 2219c/kg clean, for a six-bale line of 19.7 micron AAAM branded PF/H and sold by Elders Melbourne. The line yielded 73 percent, with an average staple length of 103mm, a tensile strength of 41 Newtons/kilotex and 0.9pc vegetable matter content.

A three-bale line of 17.9 micron AAAMWNS wool with a yield of 66.7pc, staple length of 52mm, tensile strength of 50N/kt and 0.7pc vm sold for 335c/kg greasy, or 2001c/kg clean.

An eight-bale line of 18.4 micron AAAM sold for 1445c/kg greasy, or 2232c/kg clean. The line yielded 65.2pc, was 67mm long, with a tensile strength of 41N/kt and 0.5pc vm.

A seven-bale line of 20.3 micron AAAM with a yield of 70.5pc, a staple length of 98mm, tensile strength of 33N/kt and 2pc vm sold for 1595c/kg greasy, or 2262c/kg clean.

A six-bale line of 21.6 micron AAAM made 1605c/kg greasy, or 2157c/kg clean. The line yielded 74.4pc, was 118 mm long, with a tensile strength of 21N/kt and 0.4pc vm.

Non-mulesed 25.5 micron line wool tops online crossbred offering

Crossbred wool sold online to a top price of 860c/kg greasy, or 1268c/kg clean, for a 13-bale line of non-mulesed 25.5 micron AAAFX also offered by Elders Melbourne and branded Deltroit. The line had a yield of 67.8pc with 2pc vm.

A 12-bale line of 28.9 micron AAAFX with a yield of 71.5pc and 0.5pc vm sold for 677c/kg greasy, or 947c/kg clean.

A 15-bale line of 29.2 micron AAAM with a yield of 74.1pc and 0.3pc vm made 678c/kg greasy, or 915c/kg clean.

With an estimated 39,000 bales on offer nationally, including about 7500 bales in Sydney and 22,900 bales in Melbourne, the market is expected to offer consistency for growers, brokers and buyers, Mr Rookyard said.

“The short supply will keep the market buoyant in the short term.”