Wool prices rise by 23% this season

Wool prices increased for a fifth week in a row with the Cape Wools market indicator gaining 4% to close at a high of R108.63/kg (clean).

This is an increase of 24% on the opening sale price and up 3.3% on last season's highest level.

It also means that the indicator has risen by 23% during October.

The sale was marked by keen competition from the various sectors of the trade‚ which 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‚ it had gained 0.8% against the euro.

A total of 9‚906 bales were offered for sale of which 99% was sold. Major buyers were Standard Wool SA (2‚719 bales)‚ Modiano SA (2‚684 bales)‚ Stucken & Co (1‚825 bales) and Lempriere SA (1‚525 bales).

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 got R110.20/kg (greasy) for six bales of BH wool of 16.5 microns.

Prices rose across the board but the finer end of market posted the highest increases.