Domestic Wool Trading Slow,
Australian Prices Bit Higher

GREELEY, Colo. —(USDA)— Domestic wool trading last week was nearly at a standstill. Demand was narrow and limited due to lack of business in all facets of the industry.

Most producers are reluctant to accept current bids on wool with most opting to store wool either at home or in local warehouses. Some wools have been moving on a consignment basis to mills with the price to be determined at a later date.

In Territory trading, Wyoming sold a few clips totaling

140,000 pounds, bellies out and untied, including 1998 and 1999 wool, 22.5-23.3 micron, staple, high yielding, average vegetable matter, at 55-57 cents grease f.o.b., in square packs; Colorado moved 52,000 pounds of whiteface lamb wool, 19.1-22 micron, 2.75-3 inch, in square packs, at 33-35 cents, blackface wool 22 cents; Montana sold 10,000 pounds of 24.5 micron, staple, bellies out and untied, film packs, high yielding, at 54 cents grease; Idaho reported 105,000 pounds of 25-26 micron graded wool, staple length, at 33 cents grease with short/tender wool 2.5-2.9 inches 31.5 cents, black wool 10 cents and tags and bellies five cents.

Warehouse trading was slow. A total of 720,000 pounds was reported on a clean delivered basis: 20.5-22 micron, bellies out and untied, staple length, was $1.20-1.25, 22-23 micron $1.15, 23-24 micron $1.10, a few 22.5-23.5 micron, 2.8-2.9 inch French wools 98 cents, 24 micron short/tender wool 95 cents, 25 micron staple 90 cents, 26-28 micron 75 cents, 27.8-30.9 micron 55-65 cents, and 29.3-32.6 micron 50-55 cents.

In Texas, nearly 32,000 pounds of mohair sold with spring kid at $4 and fall kid mostly $4.50-5.50.

The Australian market indicator closed up seven cents at 502A cents per kilo clean. A total of 51,487 bales were offered with clearance at 86 percent. The greasy 21 micron

futures contact for April closed at 542A, June 552A, August 562A and October 573A. The 19 micron cash settlement wool contract closed for April at 839A, June 848A, August 851A and October 859A.

New Zealand's market indicator at Napier was down two cents to close at 383NZ cents per kilo clean. Finewool was not established (last sales at 717NZ on February 11), lamb wool down two at 327NZ, strong indicator down two at 353NZ and medium wool not established. A total of 1310 tons were offered, 21 percent passed in.