WOOLTRADE sold 1750 bales of wool last month, including 70 in the last week of February, as the online platform mirrored physical auction activity.

Wooltrade market operations officer Tom Rookyard said just over 75 of last month’s sales, or 1300 bales, sold during the physical market’s mid-month rally.

The top-priced Wooltrade lot last week sold for 1715c/kg clean or 1300c/kg greasy. It was a four-bale line of 15.6 micron Merino weaners fleece, with an average staple length of 81mm, yield of 75.8 percent, tensile strength of 44 Newtons/kilotex and 0.3pc vegetable matter content. It was branded SR&GR/SUNSBURY and was offered by Landmark Goulburn.

An 18-bale line of 18.6 micron Merino fleece sold for 1486c/kg clean, or 1030c/kg greasy. It yielded 69.3pc with an average staple length of 82mm, tensile strength of 37N/kt and 0.3pc vm.

A three-bale line of 20.9 micron fleece with a yield of 60.4pc, staple length of 84mm, tensile strength of 23N/kt and 2.9pc vm sold for 1341c/kg, or 810c/kg greasy.

A nine-bale line of 21.4 micron Merino fleece sold for 1393c/kg clean, or 840c/kg greasy. This line yielded 60.3pc, with an average staple length of 86mm, tensile strength of 37N/kt and 2.6pc vm.

A six-bale line of 22.1 micron Merino fleece made 1326c/kg greasy, or 756c/kg greasy. It tested with a yield of 57pc, average staple length of 86mm, tensile strength of 26N/kt and 1pc vm.

Fine skirtings continued to get strong buyer interest, Mr Rookyard said, with a two-bale line of 15.9 micron pieces, 89mm long, a yield of 70.2pc and tensile strength of 37N/kt with 1pc vm made 1417c/kg clean, or 995c/kg greasy. This lot was branded MAYFIELD and was offered by Jemalong Wool at Cooma, NSW.

Mr Rookyard said the Australian Wool market was influenced by a number factors in February, including the Chinese New Year, exchange rates, weather and supply contractions.

This week about 45,000 bales are on across all three selling centres.

“The Chinese mills should now be all back operating after their New Year break, although they may wait for a more favourable exchange rate,” Mr Rookyard said.

Click here for last week’s Wooltrade top prices summary.

Source: Wooltrade