Fine wools support market at season’s 27th sale

The 27th sale of the wool season followed the downward trend observed in Australia. However, there was still good participation from buying houses, which resulted in an overall sales clearance of 93,8%, according to Cape Wools SA.

A total of 8 197 bales were on offer, with the bulk consisting of fine micron wools. Sustainably certified wools made up 53% of the Merino wools on offer.

The non-certified indicator decreased by 1,3% to close at R149,11/Ȳkg, while the certified indicator eased by 1,2% to close at R166,79/kg.

The Australian market closed

0,8% down in Australian dollar terms from the previous sale.

BKB’s top performers were Kareekrans & Draai in Somerset East, who received R200/kg for an AH lot of 15,9 microns with a 72% clean yield and R173,10/kg for a BH lot, and BM Pringle of Adelaide, who received R164,60/kg for a CFFY lot.

Major buyers were Tianyu SA (1 630 bales), BKB Pinnacle Fibres (1 448), G Modiano SA (1 432) and Standard Wool SA (1 129).

In Australia, lower-priced wools in both the carding and crossbred wool descriptions sold quite well, according to the Australian Wool Innovation. But price levels for the super fine Merino wools of 18,5 micron and finer continued to feel the brunt of muted global spending.

As such, key European luxury apparel makers were extremely cautious and selective at South African and Australian auction centres.

However, a few of the larger vertical worsted mills and top makers operating in China were absorbing much of the better wools on offer.

At the local sale, buying interest was mainly from China, but some smatterings of purchasing from India provided the counteraction necessary to hold the market.

Evidence emerged of some Chinese top makers becoming more interested in the finer Merino wools.

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