Wool comes primarily from sheep and is an important textile fiber used around the world. Whether for clothing, canvas, rugs, or even upholstery, wool is an important resource for many industries and professions. This natural fiber has many benefits, such as being biodegradable, easy to clean, and even has a natural structure that traps air, which is great for insulation. Thanks to this, the global wool industry is worth over US$30 billion, with approximately 2 million tons of wool bought and sold every year.
However, this is not surprising as humans have been using wool for over 10,000 years. The earliest use of wool by humans can be traced back to the Stone Age around 10,000 BC, when people washed, weaved and even wore wool. Thousands of years later, this textile became popular around the world as European countries introduced sheep from the East. Due to its amazing qualities, this commodity has been one of the main fibers used around the world. It's an amazing material and it's so important, who's producing this wool?
1 China - 333,624 tonnes
For many years China has ranked second in wool production in the world, and in the past few years China has made a major leap to become the world's largest wool producer. China's wool production exceeded 333,624 tons in 2020, accounting for approximately 19% of global wool production. This is thanks to the importance of China's textile industry and the presence of large ranches, which are ideal places to raise sheep. Surprisingly, even with this huge production, because demand is so high, China is also the largest importer of wool, importing over $1.5 billion of wool. So far, 40% of China's wool imports come from Australia, the second largest producer recently overtaken by China.
2. Australia – 283,794 tonnes
While Australia may not be the largest wool producer today, it is one of the most important in terms of the wool market. The country produced 283,794 tons in 2020, accounting for 16% of global wool and is by far the world's largest wool exporter. This is thanks to the huge production area, since all regions of the country are actively involved in wool production except the Northern Territory. Specifically, a total of 71.6 million sheep will be shorn in Australia between 2021 and 2022. Another benefit of the Australian wool industry is that Australia's climate supports high-quality Australian Merino sheep, which are able to produce large quantities of fine wool, which is popular around the world.
3. New Zealand - 151,192 tons
New Zealand's wool production is 151,192 tons, accounting for 8-9% of the world's wool, and has been an important player since the mid-20th century. This was due to the New Zealand wool boom of 1951, which saw a huge increase in sheep numbers and wool production. Since the Korean War was ongoing at the time, the United States wanted to import large quantities of wool, and New Zealand quickly took advantage of this. Wool prices tripled within days, and over the next few years the country amassed 70 million sheep, making it a major player at the time.
However, as demand gradually declines, New Zealand's sheep population has more than halved in the past 40 years, and is expected to reach about 26 million in 2020. Combined with the fact that many sheep are sold to meat processors rather than used to make wool, New Zealand's wool industry has been in slow decline. Thankfully, though, with sheep sheared approximately twice a year, New Zealand remains one of the world's largest producers of high-quality wool. An interesting fact about New Zealand wool is that New Zealand wool is significantly thicker and coarser than Australian wool due to climate, topography, etc. As a result, New Zealand wool is more commonly used to make carpets and blankets rather than clothing.
4. Türkiye – 79,754 tons
Türkiye is known for having a very influential and important textile and clothing industry, which is evidenced by its huge share in the world’s clothing exports. Since wool is one of the main fibers used in this market, Türkiye is bound to produce large quantities of wool to meet their needs.Thus, in 2020, Türkiye produced 79,754 tons of wool, equivalent to 4% of global production. The local wool industry is huge, involving more than 35,000 textile companies, providing countless jobs throughout processing and production. Furthermore, Türkiye's wool production has grown steadily since 2009 and is expected to continue to grow.
5. United Kingdom - 70,967 tons
The United Kingdom has a long history and is one of the earliest countries where wool was "popular". In medieval England, sheep were imported from the Middle East , and wool was the main force driving industrial development between the 13th and 15th centuries. Following events such as the Hundred Years' War, a variety of skilled weavers emerged in England, and the country is still renowned for having some of the finest cloth producers. At the same time, the number of farmers is also growing, as there are currently around 45,000 sheep farmers in the UK and 34 million sheep, producing up to 70,000 tonnes of wool each year.
6. Morocco – 58,839 tons
In Morocco, wool is an important commodity and is used in the country’s various textile industries. Whether producing traditional rugs, clothing, or even tents, Morocco has a prominent market for its wool. Due to this demand, wool production has continued to increase over the past 40 years. In 1977, the country produced approximately 11,000 tons of wool, a figure that has increased more than five-fold, with production in 2020 being just under 60,000 tons. Due to strong domestic demand, Morocco ranks much lower on the wool export list as most of the wool is used domestically.
7. Iran - 58,372 tons
Iran's wool production in 2020 was 5 8,372 tons, accounting for about 3% of the world. It is a huge wool producer with a lot of untapped potential. This is because Iranian wool is known for being quite thick, making it ideal for use in rugs and thicker fabrics. However, even with this potential, Iranian wool is often overlooked because sheep are grown primarily for meat rather than shearing. Additionally, in many areas, water problems complicate wool cleaning (an important step), negatively impacting production. Thankfully, Iran is still able to continue to produce high-quality wool, which supports the beautiful handmade rugs woven in the region.
8. Russia – 51,660 tons
As of 2020 data, Russia ranks eighth on the list of wool producing countries, producing approximately 50,000 tons of wool. This production is supported by a dynamic array of farmers, ranging from individuals with up to 1,000 sheep to large ranching units that can manage over 25,000 sheep. It is estimated that the total number of sheep in Russia is about 25 million, 60% of which are Merino sheep, which are famous for their fine wool. Although the Russian wool industry is quite strong and multifaceted, it has actually decreased significantly over the past 30 years. This is because Russia used to be a huge importer of wool during the Soviet era about 30-40 years ago, processing around 175 tons of wool to provide clothing for the communist army. However, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the wool industry collapsed and the country is currently struggling to rebuild and expand.
9. South Africa - 47,287 tons
Although South Africa ranks very low in the top 10, the wool industry in South Africa has a long history. At the end of the 18th century, Merino sheep were introduced to the Cape of Good Hope, which was the first region to start producing exquisite clothing. Since then, the region has developed a renowned wool industry and is now known for its unique "South African wool". This wool is the general name for wool produced in South Africa and is known for its several variations of varying finenesses. It's worth noting that this wool is less elastic than Australian wool, making it an ideal fiber for making shawls and socks. Because of this, demand for South African wool is quite high and the country has a strong and stable wool industry.
10. India - 45,844 tons
According to 2020 data, India's wool production is approximately 45,844 tons, accounting for 3% of global production.Surprisingly, unlike many other countries on this list, most (85%) Indian wool is coarser, so it is defined as "carpet grade" and is used primarily for carpets. This massive industry is supported by India's approximately 64 million sheep, the third largest sheep population in the world. The reason India does not rank high on this list despite having so many sheep is that the local market for mutton production is often given a higher priority.
In terms of quantity, Indian mutton production has more than doubled over the past 15 years, while wool production has remained essentially the same. Additionally, a large portion of the country's wool is exported, while local demand comes from imports from places such as Australia and New Zealand. Thankfully, as the Indian government takes steps to improve the quality and competitiveness of the country’s wool market, a number of initiatives have been launched which appear to indicate a growth trajectory for Indian wool.
Since many countries produce different types of wool in different climate conditions, a common question arises: who produces the best wool? Australian Merino wool has been a major market for many years and has the right temperature, humidity and land, etc., and is known as the best and softest wool in the world. This wool comes from Australia's Merino sheep and is the perfect material for making fine clothing and is therefore a major import to many countries.
Source: https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-world-s-top-wool-producing-countries.html
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