Prices at today's national wool sale were mixed, with falls generally balancing increases, and Wool Services International Ltd (WSI) reported that the sector's latest period of "stabilisation" was continuing.
Prices at today's national wool sale were mixed, with falls generally balancing increases, and Wool Services International Ltd (WSI) reported that the sector's latest period of "stabilisation" was continuing.
Of the 21,000 bales on offer at the combined auction of North and South Island wool, 82.7 percent sold.
WSI general manager John Dawson said that prices between the two islands varied depending on availability and processing demand.
"Mixed pressure from the market resulted in some categories lifting in value, while others dipped slightly," he said.
Despite these fluctuations, the indicators for the bulk of the fleece wools eased by just 1c/kg compared to last week's sale.
Since the previous sale on February 3, the New Zealand dollar exchange rate dropped 0.78 percent against a weighted indicator of the main international wool trading currencies, which had restricted impact on some segments of the market.
Best performed selection today was the finer end of the mid micron wools, which rose by between 5 percent and 8 percent, while the coarser end remained steady.
Fine crossbred fleece and shears remained firm overall. Good colour coarse crossbred fleece ranged from firm to 2 percent dearer. Average to poor styles in the South Island were 1.5 percent cheaper to firm, while the same types in the North Island rose by up to 1.5 percent.
In both centres coarse crossbred shears were generally 1 percent stronger.
Larger volumes of first lambs' wool have become available at this stage of the summer, and those types eased in price by between 1.5 percent and 4 percent.
Oddments in the South Island were 2 percent to 4 percent cheaper, with the North Island selection firm to 4 percent dearer, he said.
Mr Dawson said that widespread competition among buyers characterised today's sales, though the prevailing pattern of dominance by buyers in India, Australasia and China was still seen.
Buyers from the United Kingdom, the Middle East and Western Europe again took support roles.
Next week's sale, on February 17, includes 5000 bales from the North Island and 7000 bales of South Island wool.
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