Merino wools in steady demand

Press, 21 November 1987, Page 14

Merino wools in steady demand

Super-fine Merino wools remained in steady demand at the sixth Christchurch wool sale of the season yesterday with prices for the top lines exceeding 2000 c a kilogram (greasy). Most of the buying power for Merino wools came from Japan with good support from European interests. The bulk of the offering of more than 13,000 bales came from Canterbury and Marlborough, with a small entry from Nelson and the West Coast. Compared to the previous Christchurch sale on November 6, the price of super-fine Merino wool of 18 and 19 micron was steady to a shade easier, according to brokers. The price of 21 micron fleece

was slightly easier, but 22 to 23 micron fleece was up to 2.5 per cent dearer. The price of Merino oddments rose substantially, but Halfbred and Corriedale fleece was up to 2.5 per cent cheaper, and crossbred fleece was slightly easier. No comparisons with Thursday’s Timaru sale,, or market indicators, were available last evening because of a breakdown in the Wool Board’s computer.

Brokers described the ewe fleeces as being of particularly good colour having good staple length. The hogget wools were again in outstanding order. Merino wools comprised about 15 per cent of the offering. Al-

though the peak of the fine-wool consignments has now passed, brokers expect a good selection of Merino wools to be offered at the December sales in Christchurch. The Dunedin sale next week will include a substantial quantity of fine wool including a super-fine line of 15.7 micron. A feature of the demand this season for Merino wools has been the big difference in price in relation to the micron measurement Super-fine wools of 18 and 19 micron were yesterday fetching up to $5 a kilogram (clean) more than 19 to 20 micron wool, with a gap of another $3 to 20 and 21 micron wool.

The high prices for Merino continue to domi-

nate the market and overshadow the prices of coarser wools. Merino oddments, such as locks, have regularly fetched higher prices than good quality clips of Corriedale and Halfbred fleece. The order of sale was Pyne, Gould Guinness 580 lots, 5296 bales; Elders Pastoral 76 lots, 632 bales; Wrightson Dalgety 862 lots, 7247 bales; total 1518 lots, 13,175 bales. The range of clean prices issued by the Christchurch Woolbrokers’ Association was: Merino, 18 micron: Good to super, 2762 to 2798. 19 micron: Good to super, to 2274; good, 2163 to 2186. 20 micron: Good to super, 1791 to 1815; good, 1764 to 1788. 21 micron: Good to super, 1318 to 1348; good, 1293 to 1312; good average, 1229 to 1236. 22 micron: Good to super, 1105 to 1118;

good, 1068 to 1091. Extra fine Halfbred and Corriedale, 25 micron: Good to super, 719 to 722; good, 708 to 717; good average, 702 to 707. Fine Halfbred and Corriedale, 27 micron: Good to super, 715 to 723; good, 704 to 711. Strong Halfbred and Corriedale, 31 micron: Good, 690 to 698; good average, 685 to 688. Fine Crossbred, 32/33 micron: Good, 653 to 665. Medium Crossbred, 35 micron: Good, 631 to 637; good average, 626 to 629. Strong Crossbred, 37 micron: Good, 626 to 637; good average, 620 to 625. Shorn hogget Fine Halfbred, 25/26 micron short: Good, 708 to 719. Halfbred, 27/28 micron short: Good, 702 to 726. Fine Crossbred, 30-31 micron 75/100mm: Good, 689 to 698.

Crossbred, 75/125pm: Good to; super. 660 to 666; good, 631 to 655. Halfbred. 29 micron: Good, “oSsEed. 37 micron 75/ Average togood, 662 ,to 682, average, 633 to 636, i Otwbred ,33/35 micron: Average to good, 587 Jo 612; average, 578 to 584. Bellies 5 Merino, 21 micron: Average to good, 1069 to 1085. Fine Halfbred, 26 micron: Average to good, 627 to 638. Halfbred, 27/28 micron: Average to good, 644 to 666. Medium Crossbred, 33/35 micron: Average to good, 583 to 591; average, 546 to 567.