Swakara Prices slightly downOn Monday, 16 April 2007 the bi-annual Swakara auction took place in Copenhagen, Denmark. A new record was set when the Swakara Centenary top lot, made of 95 D-Selected Purple skins, achieved a record price of 970 Danish Krone. The previous best price achieved in April last year was 640 Danish Krone.
The average price achieved was 340 Danish Krone (compared to 393 Danish Krone for the September 2006 auction for black skins only). According to Agra’s Wessel Visser, average prices were corrected downwards by about 13 %. “These decreases were especially notable in the lower grades. In previous years, the lower grades achieved above average prices, mainly due to the demand being higher than what could be delivered by producers at the timend detailed N$ prices per grade will be made available on the Agra website at www.agra.com.na during the week commencing 23 April. About 60 000 pelts were sold at this auction. Agra is the appointed agent who markets and sells karakul pelts of Namibian and South African  producers internationally.
Swakara prices increased by more than 60% over the past two years. According to Raimar von Hase, chairman of the NAU, the average Swakara price is still higher than mink prices, which goes against the accepted norm that mink always achieves  the best prices.
Says Kobus van Wyk, chairperson of the Karakul Board of Namibia: “Over the past 6 months, due to the warm weather conditions coupled to economic challenges, consumers cut spending on furs, which saw fur prices decreasing worldwide. Against this background, prices achieved at this auction were more than satisfactory. Indeed we are very happy with the prices achieved. Despite the slight price adjustment, or market correction as many buyers call it, Swakara remains a highly sought after fashion item. This could also be seen during the product inspection, which takes place prior to the auction. We had many buyers and interested parties coming from the Swakara Hall to inspect our product, highlighting the interest in our unique and special product.”
A number of local karakul producers left for Denmark on a historic tour to witness the Swakara karakul fur auction in Kopenhagen on 16 April 2007. The producers visit co-incides with the start of the centenary celebrations of the Namibian karakul industry. Karakul was first imported to the country in 1907, when a total of 12 karakul sheep arrived, forming the core of what was to become a thriving industry. According to the chairperson of the Karakul Board of Namibia, Kobus van Wyk, it is a first time that a number of producers have teamed up to witness the karakul fur auctions in Kopenhagen, Denmark.
The Agra Pelt Centre, which serves as a collection and international marketing agency for Namibian karakul pelts, received an above average supply of karakul pelts this year.

En route to Kopenhagen the group paid a visit to the newly renovated Agra Pelt Centre where they received a travel bag from Agra’s marketing manager Birgit Hoffmann prior to their departure to Kopenhagen, are Gabriel Biwa, Malcolm Campbell, Andre De Jager, Johan Grobbelaar, Tobie Le Roux, Truter Meyer, Christo Nell, Reinhold and Kirsten Schreiber, Henkie Steyn, Kobus and Ina Van Wyk, Retief and Rika Von Wielligh (listed in no particular order) . (not in the picture: Raimar and Heidi von Hase, Wessel and Marie Visser, and Tienie van Staaden, Koos Kotze, who are also part of the group.)