About 20% of the new fleece wool and oddments entered for the first Christchurch auction of the season last week was withdrawn prior to sale with farmers resisting the current price levels, PGG Wrightson South Island wool manager Dave Burridge said.
New season's wool was showing outstanding colour, length and style, reflecting the very good growing season in most parts of the South Island.
However, there was a buyer's market, with most buyers still cautious, continuing the trend of the last several months, Burridge said. About 22% of the 6300 total bales offered was passed-in.
Most crossbred types were on a par to slightly cheaper than the previous sale (the final one of last season two weeks earlier), with second shear fleece and oddments most affected.
There was a lift in the market for finer crossbred wool. Notable were 33 micron up 28c at $3.81kg/clean, and 34 micron up 42c at $3.80kg/clean. Out -of-season lambs’ wool was 3-5% dearer.
Stronger wools were mostly easier, though 35 micron was up 3c at $3.09kg/clean, and 37 micron was steady at 3.22.
Weaker were 36 micron by 8c to $3.09, 38 off 24c at $3.20, and 39 off 5c at $3.19.
Other microns were mixed, with 25 up 73c at $11.60kg/clean and 26 up 20c to $10.60. However, 27 micron was down 35c at $9.22kg/clean, 30 micron off $1.20 to $6.10 and 31 off $1.30 at $5.60.
Prices for crossbred second shear included: 33 micron 3 to 4 inches long, up 40c at $3.49; 35 micron 3 to 4 inches down 30c at $2.85, and 2 to 3 inches off 17c at $2.44.
Also weaker were 37 micron 3 to 4 inches by 30c to $2.81, 37 micron 2 to 3 inches off 34c to $2.42, 39 micron 3 to 5 inches was 34c down at $2.77, 3 to 4 inches off 30c at $2.75kg/clean, and 2 to 3 inches off 13c at $2.46.
Merino wool for best top-making was firmer, 17 micron up 5c at $3.85, 18 micron up 37c to $3.52, 19 micron up 29c at $3.17, 20 micron up 54c to $3.54, and 21 micron up 37c to $3.48.
