The 2026/27 wool season kicked off this week, with an offering of 8 982 bales, after 508 bales were withdrawn prior to the sale.
Although 68% of the offering tested 20 micron and finer, less than half of the offering consisted of long length wools. Sustainably certified wools comprised 65,9% of the merino wools offered.
Taking into account a stronger ZAR against the US$ of nearly 2% and the recent market pressure witnessed in Australia, the market had an encouraging performance this week.
The all-merino indicator declined by 6,4% to close on R253,46 p/kg , with the certified indicator decreasing by 6,3% to close on R260,52 p/kg
A highest price of R 335,99 p/kg (clean) (R249,10 p/kg greasy) was paid for a 2-bale lot of 16,3-micron merino wool.
The Australian market also resumed sales this week and their market continued the downward trend from the last few sales of the previous season, with the market indicator easing by 3,3% (AU$) compared to the previous sale held on Wednesday, 22 July.
The major buyers on this weeks sale were G Modiano SA (1 779), Stucken & Co (1 271), Standard Wool SA (1 240) and Fibre Flow Trading (1 136).
The next sale will take place on 1 September 2026, where approximately 3 847 bales will be on offer. Catalogue 3 will be sold on 2 September, with a further 5 671 bales on offer.