Wool prices again defied unfavourable exchange rate movements, rising by up to 6% at last week's combined North and South Island sales.
New Zealand Wool Services International reports that demand outstripped the negative exchange rate movement earlier in the week, with 78% of the 14,250 bales on offer selling.
A nominal offering of mid micron fleece, 27 to 30.5 micron, rose in price by 2% to 4% and fine crossbred by between 1.5% and 3.5%.
Competition was tight for finer carpet-type fleece wool, pushing the price up by 6%, while coarser fleece with good colour rose 4% and other types firmed in value.
Coarse shears rose by up to 5%.
Combing lamb's fleece fell by up to 1% but a small selection of fine, short lamb's wool was intensely fought over, with prices lifting between 4% and 15%.
Short coarse lamb's fleece was firm to 2% stronger while all oddments were firm to 3% higher.
The main buyers were from China, India and the Middle East.