The second sale of the 2019 British selling season posted a 5.2% rise in the British Wool index at £1.62 a kg clean as against £1.54 a kg in the first sale held on 2 July. The total volume offered was 1.698 million kg, of which 1.165 million kg were sold, posting a clearance rate of 68.6% as against 94.6% in the previous sale. The average clean price for new season wool was £1.62 a kg, and for greasy at £1.108 a kg.
The sale comprised around 175 lots of new season wool and 116 smaller end of season lots from the 2018 season. Clearances for the Fine and Medium types were around 70%, Cross types around 80%, Hill types around 60%, and Mountain around 40%. Less than 300 tonnes of 2018 season wool remained unsold.
Price movements for key wool types were as follows. Fine was 3% cheaper while Medium Hogs were generally firm, Ewes 2-3% cheaper, except discoloured which were 6% cheaper on a poorer selection. Mule was generally 3-5% cheaper except cotts which were buyers’ favour. Cheviot was also in buyers’ favour while Radnor fine and medium were 4% cheaper.
The next and third sale is schedule on 13 August.
