The British Wool index was down 3.6% at £1.51 a kg clean in the final sale of the 2018 season held on 11 June, compared to the previous sale on 21 May. The total volume offered was 1.126 million kg, of which 0.926 million kg were sold. This implies a clearance rate of 82.2%. The average clean price was £1.46, and for greasy at £0.954 a kg. Mountain wools saw weaker demand with a clearance rate of 49%, and there was a small carry-over of these types into the new season.
The average lot size was lower than average, and colour scores for several key types were relatively poor. Clearances for fine, medium, cross and hill types were typically in the 90-100% range. Supplies of the 2018 season among these wool types are now largely exhausted.
Price movements among key wool types saw: fine 3-5% dearer, except hogs which were up to 20% dearer. Medium hogs were dearer up to 3%. Ewes No1 were fully firm while ewes No2 were 2.5% cheaper. Discoloured ewes were fully 7.5% cheaper on a very poor colour end of the season selection.
Mule hogs were sold up to 2% dearer while ewes No1 were firm, ewes No2 4% cheaper and Cotts firm. Cheviot hogs were up to 7.5% dearer and ewes were up to 3% cheaper. Radnor styles were not offered in this sale, while Welsh remained unsold. Swaledale types were in buyers’ favour. Blackface short fine and No2 were firm, while Cotts and light grey were up to 5% cheaper.
Source: British Wool
