Wool prices eased at last week's South Island sale, ending a run of sales in which they strengthened.
Even an easing exchange rate could not compensate for lower buying pressure, which saw crossbred prices fall by up to 6%, but a small offering of merino fleece rise 2% to 6% and mid micron by up to 2.5%.
The sale attracted 8500 bales, of which 84% sold.
NZ Wool Services International reported that compared with the previous South Island sale, fine crossbred fleece and shears eased 1% to 2.5% and coarse carpet fleece 2.5% to 3%.
Good style longer shears were 2% cheaper, average styles fell 4% to 6% and shorter styles by up to 4.5%.
Combing oddments fell 1.5% to 2% with poorer styles 3% to 5% cheaper. Meanwhile, Wool Partners International (WPI) has announced next season it will auction all its crossbred wool through Christchurch, bringing an end to fortnightly sales in Napier.
The chief executive of the country's largest woolhandler, Iain Abercrombie, said the move followed discussions with exporters and others in the industry, and would create efficiencies for buyers and reduce costs for the company.
North Island farmers would continue to supply wool as usual with samples and the sale transaction shifting to Christchurch.
There would not be any additional costs, he said.
Mr Abercrombie said eventually WPI wanted to move to electronic selling, but at this stage buyers still wanted to physically handle samples before the auction.
"Auctions remain an important sales channel, but the days of 40 buyers competing for the offering have long gone. Now there are rarely more than a dozen at any one event," he said.