There was a marginal increase in the volumes of wool offered at national physical auction centres last week.
A total of 48,971 bales went under the hammer, compared to 46,622 bales the week before.
The Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) Eastern Market Indicator rose by nine cents a kilogram on Tuesday and picked-up another 6c/kg on Wednesday, seeing the selling week out to close at 1300c/kg - or US989c/kg.
This represented a proportional increase of 15c/kg compared to the previous week's finishing figures.
Despite the upticks in physical auction offerings and prices, the passed in rate of wool last week was 9.6 per cent. This was steady compared to previous weeks.
Global trade complications and access to consumers are pushing retail prices upward and this was a potential aid to sales in the past week - and a positive predictive sign for future weeks in the wool trade.
Last week, the AuctionsPlus online offer board experienced an increase in the number of bales sold from 318 the previous week to 434 bales.
Finer 17 and 18-micron wools were in demand and 77 and 99 bales of these categories were cleared, respectively.
The 17-micron lines reached a top of 1500c/kg (greasy), or 2019c/kg (clean), and the 18- micron lots fetched up to a top of 1260c/kg (greasy), or 1662c/kg (clean).
The top priced lot sold online last week was a superfine 15.6-micron Merino AAAFMSUP fleece wool, which hit 1750c/kg (greasy), or 2468 c/kg (clean).
This lot, branded "St Quentin/Lismore", had a staple length of 92 millimetres and only 0.1 per cent vegetable matter. It was offered by Elders - Victoria.
There is a break in physical auction sales this week, following the Easter weekend, and then more than 50,000 bales are predicted to be put up for sale at next week's auctions.
It will be interesting to see if the online offer board experiences increased buyer activity this week, despite the national physical market recess.
