Domestic Wool Slow,
Foreign Wools Lower

GREELEY, Colo. —(USDA)— Domestic wool trading remains at a near standstill, producers remain reluctant to accept current bids at lower than spring season prices. Most will continue to store wool for marketing later. Demand for wool remains light with warehouse to processor sales 5-10 cents lower than most recent sales, particularly on medium and coarser wools.

In warehouse trading a total of 160,000 pounds was reported: graded, staple length 25-25 micron brought 70 cents clean, delivered to processors, 26.4-29.3 micron 55 cents and 29.3-31. micron 45 cents.

The Australian wool market was 1.5-4.5 percent lower, the eastern market indicator losing 18 cents to close at 561A cents per kilo clean. A total of 124,625 bales were offered and clearance was 76 percent. The grease wool 21 micron contract for October closed down nine cents at 545A, December down 15 at 562, February down 14 at 597 and June down 14 at 613. The 19 micron cash settlement clean contract for October was up 20 cents at 1030A, December down 10 at 957, February down 40 at 955, and April down 77 at 955. The 23 micron clean contract for October was up four at 409A, December down three at 407, February down 14 at 406, and April down 52 at 416.

In New Zealand, wool trading at Christchurch closed lower. The fine indicator closed down 20 at 900A, medium down 15 at 421 and strong wool unchanged at 361; no lamb wool was offered. Clearance was 79 percent on a total offering of 1891 tonnes.

South Africa's new season got underway with 460,000 bales offered for sale by mid-September. Average prices for Merino long fleeces were down six percent from the last sales of the season. Staple length 19 micron was up 11 percent at 34.82 rands per kilo, 20 micron up one percent at 25.95, 21 micron down five percent at 20.65, 22 micron down six percent at 18.11, 23 micron down 12 percent at 16.23, 24 micron down 14.5 percent at 15.62, and 25 micron down 10 percent at 15.35. Kid hair averaged 80.9 Rand with the highest lot at 128.5. Young goat averaged 51.32 with the highest lot 79.5 and fine adult 28.02 with the highest lot 52.5. ($1 U.S. equals 6.1 rand.)

In Texas a total of 70,000 pounds of mohair sold. Original bag yearling or young goat of 28-29 micron brought $4, 29-30 micron $3.50, 30-31 micron $3.25 and 31-32 micron $2.95.