NAFA Fur Auction Results – February 2014

North American Fur Auctions held their first major fur sale of the year during the last week of February.  This auction is typically an indicator of the state of the fur market and sets the tone for the rest of the fur sale season, though an increasingly unstable fur market has made future predictions of fur prices near impossible.

Here’s a recap:

Coyotes did well, with 100% sold at very strong prices.  The trim market is good, and red fox averages were stellar as well.  Muskrat averaged about the same as last year’s highs, which was great news for ‘rat trappers.  Fisher did well.

Beaver prices were very poor.  The low prices of both beaver and wild mink (which didn’t do great either) are likely tied to a huge drop in ranch mink prices.  Demand for marten was too low for what NAFA considered to be satisfactory prices, and in the best interest of trappers, they held back two thirds of the marten for the May auction, rather than dump them at a low price.

Raccoon and bobcat prices didn’t exactly tank, but were lower than previous levels.  Otter held up okay.

Here are some prices for the top selling fur items:

Muskrat – $11.41 average, 428,402 sold (100%)

Fisher – $115.36 average, 9,826 sold (100%)

Marten – only top 1/3 of furs sold, averages $85-$141

Beaver – averages of $6.10 – $26.82, depending on section, 135,074 sold

Otter – $65.46 average, 11,674 sold

Raccoon – averages of $14.05 – $21.61, depending on section, 490,361 sold

Coyote – averages of $38.45 – $90.67, 72,177 sold

Bobcat – averages of $73.25 – $393.49, depending on section, 6,166 sold

Mink – $21.10 average, 36,429 sold

Red Fox – averages of $47.29 – $56.41, depending on section, 29,062 sold

Click here for the full NAFA report, and prices for all fur items.