Wooltrade last week recorded very little price differences for lower spec vs. bespoke fibre as the scramble to secure wool consumed buyers.

Wooltrade market operations manager Tony Benson said pieces and bellies sold particularly well, recording huge gains and the crossbred and carding type wool listed was easily sold on Tuesday.

“For five weeks the wool market has given strong returns for wool producers, but last week delivered the icing on the cake with several microns recording 80-100 cent-plus price rises.”

Wooltrade sells 6312 bales in five weeks

Mr Benson said the AWEX Eastern Market Indicators massive 69 cent rise to 1241 cents clean was around 195 cents greater than this time last year.

“In this time, Wooltrade has sold 6312 bales of producers’ wool and we would need to wind back the clock to 2011 to see these prices and this amount of buyer competition.”

Mr Benson said Wooltrade now has just 3300 bales listed after selling 4624 bales in the past month, showing the level of demand for wool.

“Growers need to consider their options if they are holding wool as many price levels above 17 microns are approaching record levels.”

Mr Benson said wools under 17 micron have “room to move”, but on Wooltrade 128 bales from 14.1-17 microns found buyers.

Top Wooltrade price goes to Tasmania

Wooltrade’s top prices last week was 3469c/kg clean for a single-bale line branded GLEN STUART and offered by Roberts Ltd, Tasmania. The line measured just 14.3 microns, with 0.4 percent vegetable matter, 76.4pc yield, 36 Newtons/kilotex tensile strength.

Mr Benson said Schute Bell sold the second highest price line for 2691c/kg clean. The bale measured at 14.9 microns, with 1.7pc vegetable matter, a yield of 74.7pc, staple length of 72mm, 44 N/kilotex tensile strength.

“A solid result for a quality offering.”

Mr Benson said 17 micron fleece wool sold for up to 1499 cents on Wooltrade last week, 18 micron fleece made to 1479 cents, 19 micron to 1356 cents, 20 micron to 1338 cents and 21 micron to 1301 cents.

Source: Wooltrade