Demand sends possum fur prices sky high

WELLINGTON - Demand for plucked possum fur has lifted to the point where some commercial buyers are offering $100 a kilogram for hand-plucked fur from the back of a pelt.

A new entrant to the possum fur fibre markets, Mohair Fibres, of Pokeno, 50km south-east of Auckland, is offering the $100/kg price.

Last winter, the top price offered by manufacturers blending the fur with merino wool for lightweight but strong and soft fabrics was reported to be $45/kg.

Mohair Fibres proprietor John Woodward said demand for fabric incorporating possum fur was now consumer-driven.

The company had moved into the possum fur market because it was a natural extension of the specialty fibres in which it dealt.

"We had a product range for sale at the national agricultural field days," he said. "They sold extremely well and created a lot of interest."

His company was now offering $70/kg for machine-plucked 20mm fibre and $60/kg for 15mm fibre, without belly and tail fur.

He said the new prices would increase the returns to trappers and shooters to between $3.50 and $6 an animal, depending on the grade sold. It takes 10 to 15 possums to make 1kg of fur.

Mr Woodward said harvesting was not straightforward, because possums were best plucked freshly killed when the plucking had to be done by hand.

Some possum hunters had paid between $1200 and $3000 for machine pluckers, but the design of some of the machines meant they were causing excessive fibre breakage, which lowered the average length and prices paid for the fibre.

Mr Woodward said some research was being done on "shearing" possums, using thin goat combs on the shears.

"Hunters should be aware they are dealing with a rare and luxurious product."

The process of weaving the short-fibre possum fur with wool was developed several years ago but was not taken seriously until the past two or three years.

The spinning process is difficult because of the short fibre, and turning the fabric into garments has also presented challenges.

Blends of fabric spun from possum fur and fine merino wool are light and soft yet have the warmth of fabrics five or six times as heavy.

- NZPA