Wool prices continued to rise at last week's sale of North and South Island wool, as they have done all season.
Strong demand once again drove average prices by nearly 6% compared to the previous week, and 98% of the 19,948 bales on offer were cleared.
New Zealand Wool Services International general manager John Dawson said that since the previous sale, the New Zealand dollar had increased 3% against the US dollar, but wool prices ignored that, with longer, fine, crossbred shears and early second shears, 32-34 micron, rising 4.5% to 5.5%.
Good to average coarse crossbred fleece rose 8% to 9% and the poorer styles by 13%. Coarse early-shorn and second-shear wools lifted 6% to 10.5%, with the shorter lengths increasing the greatest.
First lambs' wool rose 3% to 5%, and oddments 3.5% to 8%.
Wool Partners International auctioneer Dave Burridge said prices broke through the 700c a kg clean barrier for the first time in many years.
Demand from China was "unprecedented", reflecting very little stock throughout the wool pipeline. Buyers from China dominated, with good support from Australia, Europe, the United Kingdom and Asia.