Official report, prices

Press, 6 December 1985, Page 17

Official report, prices

Prices for most Halfbred fleece lines at the combined Timaru and Invercargill wool sale yesterday were firm on the levels set at the Christchurch sale late last month, according to the official report.

Crossbred fleece was fully in sellers’ favour and secondshear prices were up to 2.5 per cent higher, says the report, compiled by the South Canterbury and Invercargill Woolbrokers’ associations in conjunction with the Wool Board and the New Zealand Council of Wool Exporters. Compared with the Christchurch sale on November 29, Merino prices were firm except for 21 micron fleeces — of these, the better style wools were up to 2.5 per cent cheaper, and poorer style up to 5 per cent cheaper. Extra fine Halfbred (25-26 microns), fine Halfbred (27 micron) and medium Halfbred (28-29 microns) fleece and Halfbred skirtings were firm. Halfbred oddments were in buyers’ favour. Prices for fine crossbred (33 micron), medium crossbred (34-35 microns) and strong crossbred (36-37 microns) were in sellers’ favour. Crossbred second-shear

prices (37 micron) were up to 2.5 per cent dearer, and crossbred skirtings and oddments generally unchanged. The Wool Board bid on 2616 bales, or 13.1 per cent of the offering and bought, or had passed to it, 1207 bales, or 6 per cent. The main buyers came from Eastern Europe and the Far East and there was restricted competition from Western Europe. Competition from New Zealand mills was limited. The Invercargill catalogues contained 12,156 bales and was made up of 57 per cent ewe fleece, 35 per cent shorn hogget, and the rest woolly hogget and oddments. Main clip ewe fleece is now entering the market and this appears to be well-grown, although pen stain is showing in some lines. Hogget wools had good colour and length. Some lines of high-lustre wool, either Lincoln or Lincoln cross, attracted a premium. The following is the official range of clean prices at auction: Merino, 19 micron: Good to super to 995, good to 990, good average to 952. Merino, 20 micron: Good to super to 870, good to 865, good average to 827.

Merino, 21 micron: Good to super to 784. good to 780, good average to 741. Merino, 22 micron: Good to super to 685, good to 680, good average to 667. Extra fine Halfbred and Corriedale, 25 micron: Good to super to 550, good to 545, good average to 523. Fine Halfbred and Corriedale, 27 micron: Good to 461. Medium Halfbred and Corriedale, 29 micron: Good to 451. Fine crossbred, 33 micron: Good to 466. Medium crossbred, 35 micron: Good to super tb 461, good to 459, good average to 457. Strong crossbred, 37 micron: Good to super to 460, good to 459, good average to 457. Shorn hogget Fine crossbred, 30/31 micron, 75/100mm: Good to 450. Crossbred 33/34 micron, 75/ 125 mm: Good to 450. Second-shear Crossbred, 37 micron, 75/ 125 mm: Good to 455. Crossbred, 37 micron, 50/ 100 mm: Good to 453, good average to 436. Necks Meriiio, 21 micron, Average to 705. Fine crossbred, 32 micron: Average to good to 439. Pieces Merino, 21 micron: Average to good to 662. Fine Halfbred, 26 micron: Average to good to 424. Crossbred, 35 micron: Average to good to 417, average to 408. Bellies Merino, 21 micron: Average to good to 636. Fine Halfbred, 26 micron: Average to good to 424. Crutchings Crossbred, 37 micron: Good to 390, average to 370. Locks Merino, 22 micron: Average to good to 343. Halfbred, 28 micron: Average to good to 361. Crossbred, 35 micron: Average to good to 338.