Prices for most types of wool lifted at Thursday's South Island sale in Christchurch, helped by a weakening of the New Zealand dollar against the US currency and the euro.
Crossbred fleece strengthened by up to 1.5% and shears by 1% - 3%.
But Wool Services International reports that subdued trading and a softer Australian market caused prices for mid micron wools to drop between 2% - 4%.
Bad weather has disrupted shearing, causing the cancellation of next week's auction at Christchurch.
The next sales of North and South Island wools, will be in a fortnight.