Wool market jitters as EMI plunges below 1700c a kg

The EMI shed a worrying 47c today to land at 1676c after dropping 31c yesterday during the first auction wool sale after the three-week winter recess.

Market pundits were right to be nervous about the re-start of sales after China-US trade tensions were wound up even higher during the break by President Donald Trump.

The market had staged a welcome rebound prior to the break but some market observers feared the rally wouldn't be sustained and they were right.

AWEX reported the pass-in rate hit 28pc in Sydney today as reluctant buyers retreated from the market which triggered price reductions across all micron categories.

Nationally 20,710 bales were offered with 14,141 sold for a turnover of $23.1 million, AWEX reported.

Wools of 18.5 microns and broader recorded losses of 60-80c while the finer microns ended the day 20-30c lower.

The story was the same in Melbourne with wools 18.5 micron and finer shedding 45-55c while 19 micron and coarser fleece fell by 75c.

A lack of buyer confidence across the Nullabor sent the Fremantle Merino fleece market sliding by 90-100c compared with yesterday's rates. More than half the 3579-bale offering was passed-in.

A total 20,833 bales were offered nationally yesterday with 15,462 sold for a gross of $27.9m.

Just over 7000 bales were offered in Sydney with a clearance of 5677 bales.

A total 43,603 bales are rostered for sale in Sydney (35,215) and Fremantle next week which will further test the market.