Port Elizabeth - Today’s wool Auction was the second part of catalogue 27, with 5637 bales offered in total, with the average market indicator down 1,6% from last weeks’ auction. The wool market closed at a value of R142,72 c/kg (Clean). The Australian EMI moved 1,3% up this week. This week saw the Rand at 3,7% stronger against the US Dollar and 3,4% stronger against the Euro, compared with the average rate at the previous sale. The market improved by 2,2% in US Dollar terms. The offering reduced from the original 7 320 bales, as quite a number of bales were withdrawn during the sale, with an overall sales clearance of 85.5%.

The better-quality merino wools were in good demand, with over 90% clearance in these categories. The majority of the offering was once again medium length wools, with very little short wool on offer. Although the market was pressurised by the stronger SA currency, there was better market sentiment today, following on better results in Australia this week, which is also reflected in the positive returns in US$ terms on today’s sale. The major buyers on today’s sale were: Standard Wool SA (1 617), Lempriere SA (1 231), Stucken & Co (959) en Modiano SA (798).

The average clean prices for the selection within the different micron categories for good top-making (MF5), long fleeces were as follows: 18,0 microns decreased 3,2% to close at R163,50/kg; 18,5 microns moved 0,8% up to close at R163,39/kg; 19 microns lost 1,1% to close at R154,53/kg; 19,5 microns weakened by 4,2% to close at R149,23/kg; 20 microns was 4,3% weaker to close at R140,71/kg; 20,5 microns lost 2,4% to close at R142,66/kg; 21,0 microns lost 3,8% to close at R136,43/kg; 21,5 microns tumbled by 5,0% to close at R142,13kg; 22 microns rose 2,2% to close at R136,26/kg and 22,5 microns declined by 5,4% to close at R133,93/kg.