Prices for most styles of ewe wool increased at this week's combined sale of North Island and South Island wool in Christchurch, compared with the last sale two weeks ago.
With limited volumes of wool, buyers had to push hard to complete orders, resulting in active bidding from a full bench, Wool Partners International head auctioneer Dave Burridge said.
Good style crossbred fleece, 31 to 39 micron, increased 1%-3% on the last sale, while poorer styles were up 3%.
Second shear fleece increased 1%-2%, while lambs were up 2%-4% and crossbred oddments up 2%.
A small volume of mid micron wool sold 5% dearer, reflecting similar lifts in the Australian market.
In an offering of 16,500 bales, 81.6% sold, with buyers from Australia and New Zealand, China and Western Europe dominating. There was support from the Middle East, India and the United Kingdom.
Prices rose despite an unfavourable currency movement, with the weighted indicator for the main wool trading currencies firming by 1.21% since the last sale on May 12.
The dearer market and appreciating currency affected overseas customers significantly, with substantial price lifts in their terms, New Zealand Wool Services International general manager John Dawson said.