The eastern market indicator (EMI) rose by 20¢/kg (2.5pc), to 823¢/kg.

In two-days sale in Sydney and Melbourne, the EMI rose by 18¢/kg on Wednesday and managed another 2¢/kg gain on Thursday.

The Australian Wool Industries Secretariat (AWIS) says it was another good week, with the market up across all micron ranges (apart from 30 micron wools) and all types and in all currencies.

When looked at in other currencies, the EMI this week rose by 1.8pc in $US terms and by 1.7pc in euro terms, when compared with last week’s sale.

Clearance rates were also good, particularly in the north on Wednesday, when the pass-in rate was only 1.5pc.

Buyers for China were again dominant followed by those buying for India and Taiwan.

Performance of the regional indicators this week has been:

• Sydney’s northern indicator, up 23¢/kg, to 845¢/kg.

• Melbourne’s southern indicator, up 17¢/kg, to 806¢/kg.

• Fremantle’s western indicator, up by 23¢/kg, to 805¢, in a one-day sale.

AWIS says it is the first week that all regional indicators have exceeded 800¢/kg since mid-October last year.

A modest total of 33,208 bales was on offer, compared with 35,921 bales last week, of which 5.1pc were passed in.

The $A-$US exchange rate on Thursday closed at US83.09¢, 0.7pc since the last sale, helping wool prices at auction marginally.

The exchange rate against the euro also eased marginally by 0.7pc compared with ast week's sale, to 58.37 euro cents on Thursday.

Once again concerns about supply appear to be having a major effect on the market, AWIS says.

Growers, however, have responded to the market signals with a lift of 14pc in the expected national wool offering for next week.

Sales will be held in Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle on Tuesday and Wednesday next week, when 46,993 bales are rostered for sale.

Present estimates for the following two sales are 44,590 and 42,600 bales, respectively - an increase of 12.6pc over the three-sale period when compared with last year.