WOOL prices increased for the fifth week in a row, with the Cape Wools market indicator gaining another 4% to close at a high of R108.63/kg (clean). This is an increase of 24% on the opening sale and up 3.3% on last season's highest level.
It also means the indicator rose by 23% last month.
Keen competition helped to push prices up. The rand, at R8.62, was 1% stronger against the dollar compared with last week's average rate, and at R11.19, had gained 0.8% against the euro.
A total of 9906 bales were offered, of which 99% was sold. Major buyers were Standard Wool SA (2719 bales), Modiano SA (2684), Stucken & Co (1825) and Lempriere SA (1525).
A new seasonal record price was achieved when Eastern Cape fine-wool breeder Mike Palmer fetched a greasy price of R112.45/kg for a bale of AH wool of 15.9 microns, while John Muller from Cathcart obtained R110.20/kg (greasy) for six bales of BH wool of 16.5 microns.
The average clean prices per kilogram for the different categories of good top- making (MF5), long fleeces were: 18 microns gained 1.1% at R119.49; 18.5 microns were down 0.1% at R115.43; 19 microns rose 0.7% to R112.75; 19.5 microns were 0.1% down to R108.69; 20 microns were down 1.2% at R105.15; 20.5 microns fell 1.1% to R102.93; 21 microns were down 1.1% to R102.00; 21.5 microns gained 0.1% to R100.79 and 22 microns rose by 0.9% to R99.83.
About 10000 bales will be offered at next week's sale.
