Fur Age

Copenhagen, Denmark -- Mink prices eased slightly, while fox prices continued to climb at the June 3-6 auction at Copenhagen Fur Center, here.

Scanblack males were 100% sold at slightly easier prices, and scanblack females met some price resistance and were only 66% sold. Mahogany males were sold at firm prices, but again it was difficult to maintain the high level that females obtained during the April auction.

Pastels were sold in line with the other types with the greatest demand in males. Breeders and lowgrades sold at very strong prices compared to regular skins.

In the sale of mutation mink, most prices on regular skins declined slightly, while lowgrades were sold amid fierce competition.

"The absence of certain groups of customers who were dominant earlier in the season in the blue mink types resulted in limited demand for sapphire as well as silverblue types at the existing price level," reported the auction company.

A collection of blue fox skins by Oslo Fur Auctions Ltd. brought higher prices compared to recent Scandinavian levels. Only size 0 and 1 were offered; compared to April, size 0 advanced 16% and size 1 increased 10%. China/Hong Kong was the main buyer with Russia and Europe secondary. On silver, shadow, blue frost and various mutation foes, price levels were firm to April; purchases were well distributed among the various markets.

"We are pleased to report a record result, which showed the largest rise in living memory," reported Copenhagen Fur Center following the June 4 Swakara sale. "The auction was preceded by a very lively show period with many important customers inspecting the assortment. The Swakara price advance reflected recent increases in mink and fox price levels."

An offering of 27,000 Swakara skins sold at $23.97 (US) average and $32.30 top for Black D Flat Selected. The black average was $24.65. The offering was 100% sold at prices 50% advanced in DKK compared to December 1995. Italian buyers were dominant with strong support from Lithuania and competition from Asian interests. An offering of 2,500 gray skins also enjoyed strong support and advaned over 30%. The average was $21.08 and top was $27.54 for Medium D 1.

The following are results reported by Copenhagen Fur Center in US dollars.

Item Offering % Sold Average Top
Scanblack males regular 145,863 100 52.70 102.00
Scanblack m lowgrades 33,983 98 39.27 57.80
Scanblack m breeders 56,700 100 46.75 59.50
Scanblack female reg 172,288 66 34.85 62.90
Scanblack f lgr 70,852 98 29.24 35.70
Sanblack f brd 43,526 72 29.41 34.85
Mahogany m reg 40,309 100 61.37 86.70
Mahogany m brd 10,993 100 52.19 66.30
Mahogany f reg 49,405 61 37.40 74.80
Mahogany f brd 4,644 88 29.07 34.85
Pastel m reg 68,589 82 51.17 62.90
Pastel m lgr 35,148 99 42.33 56.10
Pastel m brd 10,425 100 47.26 54.40
Pastel f reg 61,005 57 33.66 44.20
Pastel f lgr 59,483 100 23.63 32.30
Pastel f brd 3,319 100 27.03 30.60
Blue fox 37,729 100 110.60 141.02
Silver fox 6,702 83 69.83 86.65
Shadow fox 575 100 102.11 142.72
Blue frost fox 1,144 100 112.81 154.61
Various mutations 505 100 102.11 -
Swakara 27,000 100 23.97 32.30
Swakara gray 2,500 21.08 27.54
Pearl m reg 15,983 95 50.32 68.64
Pearl m lgr 14,340 199 38.42 52.41
Pearl m total 46,075 98 43.86 59.83
Pearl f reg 10,674 98 31.79 43.37
Pearl f lgr 22,387 97 23.63 32.23
Pearl f total 38,522 95 25.50 34.79
White m reg 14,882 100 54.40 74.21
White m lgr 7,313 98 43.18 58.90
White m total 32,674 100 49.30 67.25
White f reg 12,464 48 33.32 45.45
White f lgr 10,233 92 24.65 33.63
White f total 25,723 72 27.20 37.10
Sapphire m reg 11,761 41 67.49 92.06
Sapphire m brd 6,131 25 42.16 57.51
Sapphire m total 23,488 51 51.34 70.03
Sapphire f reg 6,262 23 54.57 74.44
Sapphire f lr 3,888 98 23.80 32.47
Sapphire f total 13,701 50 28.73 39.19
Silverblue m reg 15,267 withdrawn
Silverblue m lgr 6,838 withdrawn
Silverblue f reg 11,869 36 33.15 45.22
Silverblue f lgr 6,727 22 24.99 34.09
Silverblue f total 19,190 31 30.60 41.74
Black cross m reg 4,682 100 50.49 68.87
Black cross m lgr 1,504 100 41.99 57.28
Black cross m total 6,917 100 48.28 65.86
Black cross f reg 2,758 100 27.54 37.57
Black cross f lgr 2,340 100 23.46 32.00
Black cross f total 5,428 100 25.67 35.02

Item	Offering	% Sold	Average	Top
Scanblack males regular	145,863	100	52.70	102.00
Scanblack m lowgrades	33,983	98	39.27	57.80
Scanblack m breeders	56,700	100	46.75	59.50
Scanblack female reg	172,288	66	34.85	62.90
Scanblack f lgr	70,852	98	29.24	35.70
Sanblack f brd	43,526	72	29.41	34.85
Mahogany m reg	40,309	100	61.37	86.70
Mahogany m brd	10,993	100	52.19	66.30
Mahogany f reg	49,405	61	37.40	74.80
Mahogany f brd	4,644	88	29.07	34.85
Pastel m reg	68,589	82	51.17	62.90
Pastel m lgr	35,148	99	42.33	56.10
Pastel m brd	10,425	100	47.26	54.40
Pastel f reg	61,005	57	33.66	44.20
Pastel f lgr	59,483	100	23.63	32.30
Pastel f brd	3,319	100	27.03	30.60
Blue fox	37,729	100	110.60	141.02
Silver fox	6,702	83	69.83	86.65
Shadow fox	575	100	102.11	142.72
Blue frost fox	1,144	100	112.81	154.61
Various mutations	505	100	102.11	-
Swakara	27,000	100	23.97	32.30
Swakara gray	2,500		21.08	27.54
Pearl m reg	15,983	95	50.32	68.64
Pearl m lgr	14,340	199	38.42	52.41
Pearl m total	46,075	98	43.86	59.83
Pearl f reg	10,674	98	31.79	43.37
Pearl f lgr	22,387	97	23.63	32.23
Pearl f total	38,522	95	25.50	34.79
White m reg	14,882	100	54.40	74.21
White m lgr	7,313	98	43.18	58.90
White m total	32,674	100	49.30	67.25
White f reg	12,464	48	33.32	45.45
White f lgr	10,233	92	24.65	33.63
White f total	25,723	72	27.20	37.10
Sapphire m reg	11,761	41	67.49	92.06
Sapphire m brd	6,131	25	42.16	57.51
Sapphire m total	23,488	51	51.34	70.03
Sapphire f reg	6,262	23	54.57	74.44
Sapphire f lr	3,888	98	23.80	32.47
Sapphire f total	13,701	50	28.73	39.19
Silverblue m reg	15,267	withdrawn
Silverblue m lgr	6,838	withdrawn
Silverblue f reg	11,869	36	33.15	45.22
Silverblue f lgr	6,727	22	24.99	34.09
Silverblue f total	19,190	31	30.60	41.74
Black cross m reg	4,682	100	50.49	68.87
Black cross m lgr	1,504	100	41.99	57.28
Black cross m total	6,917	100	48.28	65.86
Black cross f reg	2,758	100	27.54	37.57
Black cross f lgr	2,340	100	23.46	32.00
Black cross f total	5,428	100	25.67	35.02