New Zealand Wool Services International Limited reports that the combined North and South Island Wool auction comprising 18,700 bales saw a mixed market with 72 percent clearance. The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies increased 0.94 percent compared to the last sale on 12th January contributing to a generally softer market. 
The stronger NZ dollar combined with current market conditions saw targeted purchasing and variation in levels between selling centres, however, the overall market was generally easier. Mid Micron fleece saw the finer types ease by 3 to 5 percent with the coarser end firming slightly. Fine Crossbred Fleece in both Islands were 1 to 3 percent easier.
Fine Crossbred Shears were 1 to 2 percent cheaper in the South Island and 1 to 4 percent dearer in the North Island apart from the poor styles which were 2.5 percent softer. Coarse Crossbred Fleece were between 2 and 6 percent weaker apart from the Good Style in the North which were up to 2 percent dearer.
Read entire post Mixed market for NZ wool with 72% of total offering @ Fibre2fashion
The first sale of the New Year opened on a positive note when wool prices rose sharply and the Cape Wools Merino indicator gained 7.1% to close the day at a fresh record of R105,15/kg (clean). This is up 49% on the corresponding sale last season and 1% higher than the previous seasonal high.
This is the highest level ever for the South African indicator.
There was keen competition from the various sectors of the trade for quality fleeces and the prices of most of these types rose to well above the R100/kg mark. In the 22-micron category gains of up to 10% were posted.
The price increases were in line with Australia, where the market posted gains just before the Christmas recess and continued to improve at this week’s sales.
The rand was 1.3% weaker against the US dollar compared with the previous sales’ average rate, trading at R8,06, but at R10,28 it was 3.8% stronger against the euro.
REad entire post Cape Wools Merino indicator at record highs @ Fibre2fashion
Welcome winters this year with the ‘Wool Celebration’ campaign by Woolmark, subsidiary of Australian Wool Innovation Limited. This is a unique initiative by Woolmark, a not-for-profit company owned by 30,000 Australian woolgrowers to educate Indian consumers about the benefits of wool and the various attributes of Merino, world’s finest wool fabric.
‘Wool Celebration’ will be celebrated in the shopping malls across North India where leading brands and retailers offer quality woolen products.
The major brands closely associated with the initiative including Raymond, Monte Carlo, Reid & Taylor, Park Avenue, Gadoni of Italy, ColorPlus and Shingora among others will play a vital role in conveying the message to consumers via in- store promotions. Exciting events, games and fun activities will be organized in & around the malls to mark the celebrations.
Expressing his excitement on introducing this campaign to India, Mr. Amir Sheikh, Country Manager, India says “Wool is a premium fibre and products made of wool should have consumers’ full confidence. The campaign is an attempt by Woolmark Services India Private Limited, a subsidiary of Australian Wool Innovation, to educate Indian consumers about fine wool. We want Indian consumers to fall in love with wool all over yet again.”
He further adds, “Wool is not just a functional requirement but is becoming a fashion prerequisite of Indian consumers. The growing consumer demand for premium and differentiated products make it imminent to educate Indian consumers about versatility of wool and help them to buy best natural product.
Read entire post Woolmark launches 'Wool Celebration' campaign to throw light on wool benefits @ Fibre2fashion
Australian Wool Industries Secretariat Inc (AWIS) releases wool sale report for the week ending 16th December 2011.
The Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) Regional Indicators finished 2.2% higher, on average, in Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle this week when the US exchange rate fell by 3.6%. These were the last sales prior to the three week Christmas break.
The market stated slowly on Tuesday, but gained strong momentum on Wednesday after reports of sales to China, and later sales in Europe. The upward movement continued on Thursday, when only the South sold. It was a pleasing finish prior to the three week Christmas break. The fall in the US exchange rate was helpful in a week of low global economic confidence.
The Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) has finished the first half of the season at 1189¢, 158¢ higher than in the same week last year. The season average of 1233¢ is 302¢ higher than the season average at the end of Week 24 last year.
The bigger rise in the Western Indicator was associated with increases of 36¢ and 53¢, respectively in the 18.0 and 18.5 AWEX Micron Price Guide (MPGs) in Fremantle on Tuesday.
Read entire post Pleasing sales in Aussie wool market @ Fibre2fashion
Elders Limited has welcomed the announcement by AWH Pty Ltd to relocate to a modern warehousing facility within the Spearwood Distribution Park in mid-2012.
Elders Zone General Manager – West, James Cornish said West Australian wool growers will benefit from Elders and the selling centre moving into the new facility, just 200m from the current location.
“Having our show floor, selling centre and offices all in the same building will provide efficiencies for wool growers and all who use the facility,” he said.
The new wool store and selling centre has state of the art unloading facilities and is designed to have a quick turnaround for unloading of both large and small trucks and facilities for clients to inspect their wool alongside representatives from global wool buyers.
“Elders looks forward to meeting our clients at the new facility in 2012 and providing them with the opportunity to see first hand this latest investment in the WA wool industry,” James saiid.
“The wool industry has changed significantly over recent decades and the move to a modern and consolidated facility is a sign that wool handlers and brokers are adapting to grower requirements,” he said.
Read entire post WA growers to benefit from new Spearwood wool store @ Fibre2fashion
Australian Wool Industries Secretariat Inc (AWIS) releases wool sale report for the week ending 25th November 11.
The Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) Regional Indicators finished 0.7% lower, on average, at sales in Newcastle, Melbourne and Fremantle this week when the US exchange rate fell by 3.7%.
It was another market that finished in a different manner to the way it started. All Regional Indicators were down in both currencies on their first days of selling, with the fall in A¢ partly buffered by the fall in the US exchange rate. The situation reversed on Thursday, when demand was strong from the start, and the Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) rose by 2¢ in US¢ and by 18¢ in A¢.
The fall on Tuesday was not unexpected, given the general global financial concerns and the soft finish the previous week. However, the upturn on Thursday surprised most people, as the global economic outlook was unchanged on Wednesday night. There were trade reports of inquiry from China and Italy on Wednesday night.
Read entire post Soft trading in Aussie wool market @ Fibre2fashion
Australian Wool Industries Secretariat Inc (AWIS) releases wool sale report for the week ending November 11.
The Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) Regional Indicators finished 0.5% lower, on average, at sales in Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle this week when the US exchange rate fell by 1%.
The Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) at 1219¢ was 18.1% higher than in the same week last year; and the season average Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) of 1247¢ is 38.1% higher than the season average at the end of Week 19 last season.
Although down, the market performed well this week under the circumstances that developed in Italy during the week. The market eased. But, it performed better than global share markets, which eased by 2 to 3% on Thursday (and by 2.3% in Australia). Overall falls in the individual Micron Price Guides were generally small for the week and there were small gains among the broader Merinos.
Read entire post Micron Price Guides Drops @ Fibre2fashion
The results are in and wool is the winner – objective testing has shown that ultrafine wool garments can outperform 100 per cent cashmere and high quality cotton for comfort and softness.
The Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation (Sheep CRC) commissioned the manufacture of select ultrafine wool fabrics to provide a set of benchmarks for the measurement of next to skin comfort and handle. The Sheep CRC is a collaboration of industry, government and the commercial sector, which is working to increase productivity and profitability of the industry through new technologies for adoption by both the meat and wool supply chains.
“It is the first time that ultrafine wool knitwear has been shown, using objective testing, to be superior to other natural fibres in terms of functional qualities valued by consumers,” Sheep CRC chief executive officer Professor James Rowe said.
“Wools in the ultrafine micron category, used for the manufacture of these test garments, represent about two per cent of the Australian wool clip and therefore constitute a very rare and valuable fibre resource.”
To establish a performance benchmark for wool garments, the Sheep CRC provided wool buyers with fleece specifications for the purchase of four bales of ultrafine wool (14-15.7 micron) through normal market channels. After purchase the bales were identified as CRC 1 to 4 and sent to Italy for processing through to fabric.
Read entire post Wool Is The Winner & Its All About Comfort @ Fibre2fashion
