Australian wool auctions opened rather sedately again this week. Prices on all types and descriptions dropped slightly from the effects of a substantially stronger AUD v USD than the previous week, but not to the extent of the currency devaluation. This gave the trade some indication of what was to come on the final day of selling, as all Merino sectors found better levels of support then pushed upwards throughout selling. 

The market closed at the highest price points of the week, which was clearly illustrated by the WA centre at Fremantle having the highest quoted micron price guides at all points from 18micron right through to 21micron. The Fremantle centre’s offering is generally sold after most of the Eastern states wool has been sold, so this should be a good lead into the better prompt demand around at present.

A good volume of the highest quality superfine Merino best top making and spinners clips were available in both Melbourne and Sydney. These wools received some handy returns although the buying intensity is not evident. Neither are the prices being offered from Europe near the levels normally expected above the commodity types pricing. In fact, some of the best top making wools 18.5 micron and finer will find themselves on a boat ride to China this year and not the usual Euro destinations. 

The best super fine Merino spinners types though remained firmly in the sights of the Italian premium customers of Australian wool. These wool sale lots carrying a high curvature reading (95+) and NM certificate stood out on quote sheets and were consistently quite a few dollars a kg over their counterparts of the same micron and other tests which on the surface were similar in results.   

After a few months of price recovery, crossbred types appear to slightly in the doldrums once more and fell away 15 to 20ac/clean kg this week. Despite the gloomy talk around the carbonizing types, the oddment and cardings descriptions hung onto their values and managed to add a few cents to quotations across many types.

43,000 bales is rostered for sale next week on Tuesday and Wednesday.