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Discouraging, isn’t it?
As we’ve seen with other auctions this year, the steady slide in female alpaca prices continues. Male alpaca prices, though overall lower for the quality of the animal, represent such a small sample of overall alpaca auction lots, that I review price trend information with one eye closed… or maybe both eyes half closed. The National Elite Auction trend, though a sharp decline for females (all lots were huacayas and only three were male) pretty much mirrors the overall auction price decline for the same periods. In other words, their trends mirror the industry overall – no better, no worse.
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An interesting recent development has been the appearance of overseas buyers in the U.S. alpaca market. As the U.S. dollar has weakened and domestic alpaca prices have decreased, the U.S.has opened up as an affordable marketplace. Not only at auctions (Lot 31 CCNF Talon sold to a UK buyer) but through private treaty.
