The New Zealand wool market saw the second wool sale in North Island since lockdown was lifted. This week’s auction followed the same trend as last week’s South Island auction, with some pressure on a small offering of good colour and early shorn fleeces showing very firm levels. The larger volume of second shear lines however, eased back again in buyers’ favour for both good and average colour lots. Oddments were neglected with a relatively small offering, turning cheaper. Competition persisted across most sectors with Europe showing interest and well supported by Chinese and Australasian mills and the sub-continent.
Prices in New Zealand dollar terms fell 1.6% or 3 NZ cents to 186 NZ dollars, but were up 2 US cents at 119 US cents. A total of 6,329 bales were offered, of which 5,142 were sold, registering an improved clearance rate of 82% as against 74% in South Island last week.
The selection consisted of only 11% fine crossbred, 55% coarse crossbred, 23% lambs fleece, 9% oddments, and 2% for the miscellaneous category.
Among the buyers, the major ones were NZWSI/JSB (2,175), Masurel (1,240), and Fuhrmann (630), among others.
Price movements in North Island compared to the South Island sale of 28 May were as follows: Coarse crossbred fleece average styles were firm and average-to-poor styles were 5 cents cheaper. Coarse crossbred early shorn and second shear lots of 3/5 and 3/4 inches were in buyers’ favour, while 2/4 inches were up to 5 cents cheaper and 2/3 inches were 5-10 cents cheaper. Oddments were 5 cents cheaper while crossbred lambs of 29-29.5 microns were 5-10 cents cheaper, and 30-plus microns were 5 cents cheaper.
The next auction will be held in South Island on 11 June with an offering of 8,000 bales.
