Demand strong at combined wool sale

Most styles of mainly longer length ewe wool increased slightly in price at yesterday's combined sale of North Island and South Island wool in Christchurch.

Despite the New Zealand dollar dropping overnight, it remained strong and there continued to be full competition from the bench of buyers. After failing to meet grower reserves, 9% was passed in.

The quality of the pre-lamb shorn wool reflected the excellent growing conditions in most parts of the country, resulting also in a general increase in clean fleece weight production, Wool Partners International head auctioneer, Dave Burridge, said.

Good style crossbred fleece, 31 to 39 micron, increased 1%-3% on last week's sale, while poorer styles increased 2%.

Second-shear fleece prices were generally unchanged while crossbred oddments were up 1%-2%.

The new season's offering of mid-micron wool increased 2%-3%.