ULTRAFINE Merino wool sold for up to 1506c/kg clean on Wooltrade last week as volatility continued in the physical market.

As the AWEX Eastern Market Indicator gained 8 cents last Wednesday, then dropped back 6 cents to close at 1260c/kg on Thursday, buyers bought a range of fleece and oddment lines through the online trading system.

Wooltrade market operations officer Tom Rookyard said the top-priced lot was a 16.3 micron Merino weaner fleece line that sold for 1506c/kg clean (1080c/kg greasy). The nine-bale line had a yield of 71.7 percent, s mean staple length of 68mm, tensile strength of 57 Newtons/kilotex and 1.1pc vegetable matter content. It was branded ‘Clairveaux’ and offered by Roberts of Launceston, Tasmania.

A nine-bale line of 17.3 micron fleece with a yield of 77pc, staple length of 90mm, tensile strength of 42N/kt and 0.6pc VM sold for 1494c/.kg clean or 1150c/kg greasy.

A seven-bale line of 18.1 micron fleece with a yield of 72.5pc, staple length of 121mm, tensile strength of 40N/kt and 2.7pc VM made 1379c/kg clean or 1000c/kg greasy.

A six-bale 19.4 micron fleece with a yield of 76.4pc, staple length of 109mm, tensile strength of 41N/kt, and 2.4pc VM sold for 1377c/kg clean or 1052c/kg greasy.

A nine-bale line of 20.1 micron fleece with a yield of 65pc, staple length of 84mm, tensile strength of 33N/kt and 3pc VM made 1385c/kg clean or 900c/kg greasy.

A 14-bale line of 22.3 micron fleece with a yield of 64.1pc, staple length of 99mm, tensile strength of 30N/kt and 0.6pc VM sold for 1318c/kg clean or 873c/kg greasy.

In the crossbred catalogue, a four-bale line of 25.6 micron wool that yielded 77pc and had 0.4pc VM made 1134c/kg clean or 873c/kg greasy.

Quality skirtings attract interest

Mr Rookyard said quality skirtings in the eastern states continued to attract buyer interest.  A 16-bale line of Merino pieces from the ‘Burrunga’ clip offered by Jemalong Wool of Cooma attracted the top price — 1306c/kg clean (910c/kg greasy). The line tested at 19.3 micron, with a yield of 69.7pc, staple length of 90mm, tensile strength of 33N/kt and 2.2pc VM.

Mr Rookyard said just over 40,000 bales will be offered in the three physical auction centres this week.

“Early reports from this week’s conference at Nanjing in China are inconclusive, and thus not bullish.

“This will test the current strength of the market and offer an insight into its outlook for the near future,” he said.

Click here to see Wooltrade’s Top Prices report.

Source: Wooltrade.