Wool Industry Statistics

Although wool makes up only about one percent of textile fibres by volume, it punches well above its weight as a roughly USD 35.3 billion global industry driven by luxury demand that consumes some 60 percent of superfine supply and drove fine merino to record highs, with Australia exporting about AUD 3.58 billion in the 2021 to 2022 period and sending over 80 percent of its raw wool to China while Italy takes second place for luxury processing, New Zealand and South Africa contribute roughly NZD 400 million and R5 billion respectively, British Wool auctions move some 20 million kilograms annually, the United States and Germany remain meaningful players, India’s handmade carpet sector generates about USD 1.37 billion, Uruguay earns over USD 500 million from value-added goods, the organic wool market could reach USD 16.8 billion by 2030 and Responsible Wool Standard certification can command 2 to 5 percent premiums, yet producers must contend with high costs such as shearing eating up to 25 to 30 percent of Australian farm budgets and greasy wool averaging about USD 1.66 per pound in the US, which means this boutique heavyweight must carefully balance concentrated demand, price volatility and growing niches like merino sportswear that are enjoying roughly 7 percent annual growth.

From medieval Florence and 14th century England to alpaca herders in the Andes and shearers in Australia and New Zealand, the wool industry quietly sustains roughly 100 million livelihoods and rural economies worldwide, connects over 600 global brands, employs millions including many women, preserves indigenous and artisan traditions, honors its heroes in centuries-old guilds and halls of fame, and still juggles practical challenges like an aging workforce and safety training while producing delightful oddities such as a 37.9 second world record shear.

If the global wool industry were a sweater, Australia would be the soft Merino cuff, China the sturdy body, and dozens of other countries the patterned stitches—together they knit about 1.03 million tonnes a year with roughly a quarter fine and a quarter broad, making the market at once highly specialized and surprisingly vulnerable.

Sheep may not wear capes, but wool quietly outperforms many textiles: it biodegrades in land and sea within months, stores biogenic carbon and can sequester more under regenerative farming, insulates so garments and homes need far less washing and energy, closed loop recycling can recover almost all fibers while chlorine-free and non mulesed supply is growing, and despite farm methane and consumer laundering dominating its footprint, durable wool used for years still beats short lived synthetics.

From rare 12 micron vicuña and ultrafine Merino that rival cashmere to Super 100s at about 18.75 microns, wool proves to be a remarkable natural technical fiber: its crimp delivers up to 30 percent elasticity, its scales and cortex explain felting and structure, it can absorb roughly 30 percent of its weight without feeling wet, it resists ignition until roughly 570 to 600 degrees Celsius with a limiting oxygen index of 25.2, it carries 10 to 25 percent grease and commonly undergoes carbonizing on 10 to 15 percent of batches while wool top yields run 60 to 75 percent, long fibers over 60 millimeters are combed for worsted yarns and strong wool over 32 microns goes to carpets and upholstery that consume about 55 percent of New Zealand production, treatments such as basolan reduce shrinkage as an alternative to chlorine-based superwash, and because its keratin is the same protein as human hair and fingernails, wool manages to be simultaneously luxurious, practical and surprisingly scientific.