By Roelof Bezuidenhout
The fourth mohair sale of the summer season saw 197 832 kg of fibre on the floor, of which 99% was sold. The offering was of good quality, with 82% certified under the being Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS).
Not all buying houses competed actively, however. Just two buyers accounted for 91% of the total purchases.
The recent tariff hike announced by the US – followed by a 90-day suspension – has created uncertainty in both the currency and fibre markets, which directly affected the sale, according to Mohair SA.
The average market indicator remained steady in rand terms, closing at R377.34/kg, but declined by 4% in dollar terms compared to the previous sale.
The top price of the day was R788/kg, paid for a bale of 23,6-micron good-style kid mohair.
Price movements compared to the previous sale were as follows:
• Kids: +2%
• Young goats: unchanged
• Fine adults: -1%
• Strong adults: unchanged
A resilient industry
Pierre van der Vyver of the House of Fibres says he was “relieved and satisfied” with the outcome. “Our market indicator increased by 1%, but in real terms the market dropped by 3% because the rand weakened by 4% against the US dollar.”
He added the decline was the price the South African mohair industry had to pay as a result of the US tariffs levied on countries importing Cape mohair to manufacture high-end products. “Remarkably, like the uncertainty during the Covid scare, mohair has once again shown its resilience in times of crisis.”
Boet Greeff from Somerset East set a new seasonal record with his bale of 23,6-micron summer kid mohair, achieving the top price of R788/kg. With a clean yield of 90,6%, the super-style bale was the showpiece of the sale.
The next mohair sale, scheduled for 13 May, is expected to feature another large offering of high-quality fibre.
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 | Roelof Bezuidenhout is a fourth-generation wool, mohair, mutton and game farmer and freelance journalist. Attended Free State University, majoring in animal husbandry and pasture science. Other interests include agricultural extension and rural development. |
