ONLINE wool buyer confidence surged last week as the Australian wool market strengthened.

And AuctionsPlus is drawing strong demand while the AWEX physical auctions are in recess this week.

However, next week the Sydney auctions will be held in the Sydney central business district as part of the International Wool Textile Organization’s 85th annual congress and conference.

“This once again sees a massive supply of wool, with 57,000 bales to be offered, and this quantity will surely test the depth of the market’s demand,” Wooltrade market operations supervisor Tom Rookyard said.

Demand was strong on Wooltrade last week

Mr Rookyard said as the AWEX Eastern Market Indicator gained 12 cents to close on 1239c/kg clean last week, 1024 bales were sold on AuctionsPlus’ Wooltrade.

He said clearly the very large supply available at AWEX auctions – 43,508 bales — did not hamper demand.

“This no doubt was impacted by the fact that there is no wool on offer at the physical sales this week.”

Mr Rookyard said the top-priced lot on Wooltrade last week was a two-bale 14.9 micron fleece line that sold for 1783c/kg clean, or 1400c/kg greasy. The line yielded 78.5 percent, had an average staple length of 91mm, a tensile strength of 45 Newtons/kilotex and 0.6pc vegetable matter content. It was branded Cressbrook and offered by Landmark Newcastle.

A three-bale line of 17.2 micron wool with a yield of 61.6pc, average staple length of 71mm, tensile strength of 33N/kt and 2.4pc vm sold for 1477c/kg clean or 910c/kg greasy.

A six-bale line of 18.2 micron fleece made 1453c/kg clean or 940c/kg greasy. It yielded 64.7pc, had a mean staple length of 83mm, a tensile strength of 35N/kt and 1.7pc vm.

A seven-bale 19.2 micron line sold for 1440c/kg clean or 894c/kg clean. It yielded 62.1pc, with an average staple length of 75mm, a tensile strength of 48N/kt and 1.5pc vm.

A 13-bale 20 micron line with a yield of 64.8pc, average staple length of 91mm, a tensile strength of 35N/kt and 0.6pc vm sold for 1384c/kg clean or 897c/kg greasy.

A 16-bale 21.4 micron line sold for 1374c/kg clean or 989c/kg greasy. The line yielded 72pc, with an average staple length of 100mm, a tensile strength of 32N/kt and 0.6pc vm.

A 15-bale line of 22.1 micron fleece with a yield of 73.7pc, an average staple length of 106mm, tensile strength of 36N/kt and 0.8pc vm sold for 1357c/kg greasy or 1000c/kg greasy.

Crossbred wool sold to 963c/kg clean or 675c/kg greasy for a seven-bale line of 26 micron wool that yielded 70.1pc with 0.8pc vm.

Topping the oddment sales online was a seven-bale line of 16.8 micron Merino pieces with a yield of 63.5pc, an average staple length of 74mm, tensile strength of 34N/kt and 1.2pc vm that sold for 1369c/kg clean or 869c/kg greasy. This lot was branded Autocaps Pastoral/Bundong and was offered by Elders Goulburn.

Click here for the latest Wooltrade Top Prices Summary.

Source: Wooltrade.