Domestic Wool Slow,
Aussie Wool Higher

GREELEY, Colo. —(USDA)— Domestic wool trading remained slow except for limited sales in the Territory areas, primarily Wyoming, Idaho, Montana and Colorado. Other areas were at a standstill.

Demand remains light to very light, and producers are reluctant to sell their 1998 clip as well as newcrop wool at current price levels. Comparable sales of domestic wool on both grease and clean basis were mostly steady.

In Territory trading, South Dakota moved 10,000 pounds of reputation clip, classed and skirted 20 micron, 3-3.25 inches, high yielding with low vegetable matter at 79 cents grease; Montana sold 60,000 pounds of 1998 and 1999 wool, bellies out and untied, 20.5-21 micron, average yield, 2.8 length, for 90 cents clean; in Colorado, 63,000 pounds of classed and skirted, three-inch, high yielding 21.5-22 micron brought $1.20 clean delivered to the processor, 22-23.5 micron $1.10, and 22,000 pounds of 23.5 micron, bellies out and untied, staple, average yield 38 cents grease; Idaho reported 45,000 pounds, classed and skirted, in polypacks, staple length, high yielding 25-26 micronat 41 cents, and 40,000 pounds, bellies out and untied, 2.8-3 inch, 22.5-23.5 micron 32-36 cents grease, 25 micron 31 cents; Oregon sold 23,000 pounds, bellies out and untied, classed and skirted, 22-25 micron, staple, at 43 cents grease.

Warehouse to mill trading was at a complete standstill.

The Australian market indicator closed up four cents at 534A cents per kilo clean. A total of 111,459 bales were offered with clearance at 85 percent. The greasy 21 micron futures contact for April closed at 566, June 570, August 578 and October 590. The 19 micron cash settlement wool contract closed for April at 961, June 945, August 945 and October 938.

The New Zealand market indicator at Christchurch closed up 13 cents at 406NZ cents per kilo clean. Strong indicator was up eight cents at 371, lambs wool up nine at 342. A total of 2055 clean tonnes were offered with 25 percent passed in.