The international wool market appears firmer and with better prospects. The prices marked in the last week are auspicious: an increase of 2.8% in the Eastern Markets Indicator (IME) that reached US$ 10.32 per kilo clean base, almost 30 cents above the closing of the week previous. It is its highest value since July 2021, when it reached US$10.66 per kilo.
EO
Still The new prices are not reflected in specific businesses at the local level, although according to industry players it is a good omen.
The weekly increase was greater in coarse wool, 28 micronsalthough the category remains at low values and with much difference from the finest wools.
For businesses in Uruguay, the values that are handled are between US$0.70 per dirty base kilo and just over US$14.
During the last week, a batch of 27,000 kilos of wool from the Merino breed of 16.8 microns with RWS certified, ecological and native faucet, was negotiated at US$ 14.33 per kilo.
The establishment in Paysandú participates in the Regional Consortium for Innovation of Ultrafine Wool (Crilu) and is obtaining batches of the highest fineness that can be achieved in the country.
Global demand has been concentrated since the beginning of the pandemic in fine and ultrafine wools below 21 microns.
Lots of this fineness in Uruguay are traded at values between US$6 and US$6.5 per dirty base kilo.
For wool of 28 to 29 microns with certifications, US$ 2 per kilo is today a good price.
Local exporters point out that the European weaving industry is doing very well, and the new collections will demand more wool.
It is expected that this year business flows that have been held back by the pandemic will revive and the historically low values of mixed wool will improve, as well as the disproportion of prices with respect to synthetic fibers.
