Some of that strong micron was up to a year old, held back from sale until demand lifted and prices improved.
It would help the industry if supply was tighter but overseas buyers knew New Zealand had an overhang and generally bought wool as they needed it, New Zealand Council of Wool Exporters president Peter Whiteman said.
“They’re not there trying to pinch the last five cents.”
Whiteman, chief executive of direct buyer and exporter Segard Masurel, said the arrival of the freshly-shorn clip in the North Island could add to the imbalance but the industry was doing a good job of managing inventory in challenging conditions.
Growers could expect good prices for lambs’ wool and the best second-shear fleece but wet conditions were likely to mean more yellowing in the general clip.
There were signs of that discolouration in latest North Island shearing.
“With the wet spring we’re going to see a little bit more yellow crossbred and fleece and second-shear.” Unfortunately, it had been unusually wet across the country.
PGG Wrightson South Island sales manager Dave Burridge said some of that wool was being offered in sales known as out of auction tenders. Prices were comparable to auction and the one-off live auction at the Canterbury A&P Show.
“There’s been some business written and the buyers are in it.”
A Napier auction in early November offered 1000 bales by tender in addition to the usual rostered 8000 bales sold by open auction.
“It’s something we don’t hold on a regular basis. It’s only when our buyers come under volume pressure.”
It was farmers’ call on when and how their wool was sold but a growing number were asking for their clip to be sold before an early-December deadline for export shipping.
“Some of this wool’s going to have a birthday soon and you’ve always got new wool coming on.”
Fresh wool always had priority over older stock when deciding which fibre went to auction any given week.
“If growers want the wool sold, we’ll make it happen,” Burridge said.
