Port Elizabeth – The second sale of the season took place today as a one day offering of 7 578 bales. Withdrawals prior to the sale amounted to 1179 bales, resulting in a sales clearance of 92,21% of bales actually offered, with good aftersales improving the sales clearance.

The Australian market saw another 5,9% (AU$) decline this week, accompanied by higher passed in rates. In contrast the South African market performed slightly better, easing only by 4,1%, taking the strengthening of the ZAR of 1,1% against the US$ into account, which resulted in a 3,1 % decline in US$ terms in the market.

The majority of the offering consisted of fine fleece wools, which attracted good competition from the buyers and pushed the overall sales clearance up, with crossbred wools and wools with high Vm due to better rainfall being discounted.

Merino wools with good style and length outperformed the market today, especially the certified sustainable lots, which closed nearly unchanged from last week’s levels. The major buyers on today’s sale were: Standard Wool SA (1 907), Lempriere SA (1 647), Stucken & Co (1 193) and Modiano SA (1 025).

The average clean prices for the selection within the different micron categories for good top‑making (MF5), long fleeces were as follows: 18,0 microns decreased 1,7% to close at R160,65/kg; 18,5 microns moved 4,8% down to close at R144,89/kg; 19 microns lost 4,2% to close at R140,65/kg; 19,5 microns weakened by 4,7% to close at R135,06/kg; 20 microns was 4,8% weaker to close at R133,34/kg; 20,5 microns lost 6,8% to close at R128,80/kg; 21,0 microns lost 4,2% to close at R129,92/kg; 21,5 microns tumbled by 6,8% to close at R129,14kg; 22 microns fell 9,5% to close at R125,50/kg and 22,5 microns declined by 10,3% to close at R120,42/kg.

The next auction is scheduled for 02 September 2020 where approximately ±10 191 bales will be on sale.