WOOLTRADE sold more than 1100 bales of wool as the Australian auction market ventured deeper into record territory last week.

Wooltrade market operations supervisor Tom Rookyard said the sale of 1125 bales was the highest number sold online since the second week of January this year.

The increased online sales came as the AWEX Eastern Market Indicator last week gained 32 cents on Wednesday and a further 19 cents on Thursday to close at 1500c/kg clean. The West Australian market indicator followed a similar path, with 59 cents being added on Wednesday and 6 cents on Thursday to close at 1547c/kg clean.

The top-priced lot on Wooltrade last week was a nine-bale line of 15.6 micron AAAA Merino weaners fleece, with 0.8 percent vegetable matter. The lot was 86mm in length, yielded 74.4 percent and had a tensile strength of 41 Newtons/kilotex. It sold for 1650c/kg greasy or 2218c/kg clean. Skirtings were topped by a line of 13-bale line of 18 micron Merino pieces, 97mm long, with 4.1pc vm, a yield of 61.3pc and a tensile strength pof 25N/kt. This lot was branded Wickliffe/H and was sold by Elders Melbourne for 1035c/kg greasy or 1688c/kg clean.

The 17 micron Merino fleece sold for to 1440c/kg greasy or 2127c/kg clean, and the 18 micron fleece made up to 1446c/kg greasy or 2003c/kg clean. A 19.3 micron line sold for 1258c/kg greasy or 1738c/kg clean, and a 20 micron line made 1219c/kg greasy, or 1617c/kg clean.

A 21 micron line sold for 1133c/kg greasy, or 1535c/kg clean, and a 22.3 micron line made 1005c/kg greasy, or 1446c/kg clean.

Mr Rookyard said the wool market is in uncharted territory, with the lack of supply of good quality wool causing overseas mills to buy quickly.

“The lack of good quality wool has been intensified by the wet end to last year, which has caused in increase the vegetable matter in wool coming to auction.

“Combine these factors with a weakening Australian dollar, and signals are pointing to a strong market at the physical auctions this week,” he said.

Click here for the latest Wooltrade Top Prices Summary.

Source: Wooltrade.