Two recent fur sales gave us a great indicator of what to expect for fur prices in 2012.  On January 7th, Fur Harvesters Auction Inc. held its first fur sale of the year.  The sale went extremely well, with high averages for most species. Click here to read the FHA auction report.

Here’s a recap of the prices:

Fur Harvesters Auction, Inc.  January 7, 2012 fur sale averages:

Beaver – $7.03-33.85 (most $18.42-33.85)

Mink – $20.87

Otter – $82.15

Muskrat – $8.72

Fisher – $38.00-$57.47

Raccoon – $13.31-$18.89

Red Fox – $26.64-53.43

Grey Fox – $24.32

Skunk – $2.51

Coyote – $63.30-$68.77

Wolverine – $222.35

Wolf – $125.31-$403.94

Weasel – $3.56

Additionally, North American Fur Auctions held a private treaty fur sale on January 10, 2012 that reaffirmed the elevated fur prices.

Click here for the NAFA Report.

Here’s an overview of those results:

January 2012 Private Treaty Sale

Sale of Muskrat Exceeds Expectation
January 10, 2012

NAFA held a Private Treaty Sale over this past weekend which included nearly 100,000 fresh Muskrats as well as a selected offering of Coyotes, Beaver and Raccoon.

Muskrats sold 100% at very high prices with Section I averaging $9.03. The better qualities were sold in line with our record-breaking May 2011 sale.

Coyotes sold 100% at increased prices with a limited collection trimming coyote averaging $70.47, reflecting very strong demand from the North American trim trade.

Beavers sold 100% at sharply increased prices, reflecting a better understanding of this article from China, which now recognizes it is priced very attractively in either square centimeters or square inches. Overall Eastern larger sizes averaged $41.17 with Westerns at $37.03.

The limited offering of Raccoon was not large enough to attract sufficient buying power and was mostly withdrawn. To achieve success, this article needs a larger attendance and more participation from major overseas markets, which will be well represented in our February auction.

NAFA’s senior management is currently travelling to the major international markets and we are expecting a very large attendance for our February sale.