From Australia's vast grazing lands to Italy's high-end textile mills, the global wool industry is a multi-billion-dollar economic powerhouse, supporting millions of jobs while navigating shifting production levels, environmental challenges, and an ever-evolving international market.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, global wool production reached 1.95 million metric tons of greasy wool, a 2.3% increase from 2021.
- Australia produced 367,000 metric tons of greasy wool in 2022/23, representing 24.5% of world production.
- New Zealand's wool production for the 2022/23 season was 142,000 metric tons, down 5% from the previous year due to lower sheep numbers.
- Global wool clip value exceeded $10 billion in 2022.
- Australian wool industry contributed AUD 3.5 billion to GDP in 2022/23.
- World wool trade value reached $3.8 billion in 2022.
- Global wool employment supported 2.1 million jobs in 2022.
- Australia employed 45,000 people directly in wool production in 2022/23.
- New Zealand wool sector provided 15,000 full-time equivalent jobs in 2022.
- Global wool trade volume was 460,000 tons in 2022.
- Australia exported 330,000 tons of greasy wool in 2022/23.
- China imported 320,000 tons of wool in 2022, 70% from Australia.
- Global wool production efficiency improved 2% YoY in 2022.
- Australian wool carbon footprint averaged 25 kg CO2e per kg greasy wool in 2022.
- World sheep methane emissions from wool production totaled 150 million tons CO2e in 2022.
Global wool production grew in 2022, supporting a $10 billion industry and millions of jobs worldwide.
Economic Value
- Global wool clip value exceeded $10 billion in 2022.
- Australian wool industry contributed AUD 3.5 billion to GDP in 2022/23.
- World wool trade value reached $3.8 billion in 2022.
- New Zealand wool exports generated NZD 1.2 billion in revenue in 2022/23.
- China's wool imports were valued at $2.1 billion in 2022.
- US wool sector added $1.2 billion to farm cash receipts in 2022.
- Global wool apparel market size was $18.5 billion in 2022.
- Australian greasy wool export value hit AUD 2.8 billion in 2022/23.
- UK wool industry turnover reached £300 million in 2022.
- World raw wool price index averaged 145 points in 2022 (2010=100).
- South Africa wool export earnings were ZAR 1.1 billion in 2022.
- EU wool processing industry generated €2.5 billion in value added in 2022.
- Indian wool industry contributed INR 40,000 crore to economy in 2022.
- Global wool fibre market revenue projected to grow 4.2% CAGR to 2030 from $22 billion base in 2022.
- Australian woolgrowers' farmgate returns averaged AUD 12/kg in 2022.
- World wool consumption value estimated at $15 billion in 2022.
- New Zealand wool levy collections totaled NZD 25 million in 2022/23.
- Uruguay wool sector GDP contribution was 1.2% or $150 million in 2022.
- Global investment in wool R&D reached $200 million in 2022.
- US wool marketing cooperatives handled $800 million in sales in 2022.
- Italian wool textile exports valued €1.8 billion in 2022.
- World wool price for 21-micron Merino averaged $18.50/kg in 2022.
- Australian wool industry multiplier effect created $13 billion economic activity in 2022.
Economic Value Interpretation
In an industry where the global clip is worth over $10 billion and Australia's golden fleece alone contributes AUD 3.5 billion to its GDP, wool is clearly not just knitting, but serious economic fabric, woven from New Zealand's NZD 1.2 billion in exports to the $18.5 billion apparel market and the $200 million in global R&D that stitches together everything from a $22 billion fibre market to Uruguay's 1.2% GDP contribution and Italian textile exports of €1.8 billion.
Employment Data
- Global wool employment supported 2.1 million jobs in 2022.
- Australia employed 45,000 people directly in wool production in 2022/23.
- New Zealand wool sector provided 15,000 full-time equivalent jobs in 2022.
- China's wool industry workforce numbered 1.2 million in 2022.
- US sheep and wool industry supported 82,000 jobs in 2022.
- UK wool processing employed 10,000 people in 2022.
- South Africa's wool industry jobs totaled 35,000 in 2022.
- Global wool supply chain employed 1.5 million in textiles in 2022.
- Australian wool harvesting labor force was 25,000 shearers in 2022.
- India wool handloom sector employed 1.1 million artisans in 2022.
- EU wool sector jobs numbered 150,000 in manufacturing in 2022.
- World wool farming jobs estimated at 1.8 million in 2022.
- Uruguay wool industry direct employment was 12,000 in 2022.
- New Zealand wool scouring plants employed 2,500 in 2022.
- Italy's wool textile workforce was 45,000 in 2022.
- Global female employment in wool sector was 55% or 1.15 million in 2022.
- Australian Indigenous employment in wool grew to 5,000 jobs in 2022.
- US woolgrower average farm employment was 2.3 persons per farm in 2022.
- World youth employment in wool farming was 25% of total in 2022.
- Lesotho wool industry employed 40,000 mostly women in 2022.
- UK wool auction workers numbered 1,200 in 2022.
- Mongolia herder families in wool production totaled 150,000 in 2022.
- Global wool R&D jobs were 10,000 in 2022.
- Australian wool industry indirect jobs totaled 100,000 in 2022.
- World wool market share of employment in textiles was 2.5% in 2022.
Employment Data Interpretation
While global wool production may seem like a quaint relic, these 2.1 million jobs worldwide—from Mongolian herders to Italian weavers—prove it's still a serious and intricately woven fabric of the modern economy.
Environmental Impact
- Global wool production efficiency improved 2% YoY in 2022.
- Australian wool carbon footprint averaged 25 kg CO2e per kg greasy wool in 2022.
- World sheep methane emissions from wool production totaled 150 million tons CO2e in 2022.
- New Zealand wool farms achieved 30% renewable energy use in 2022.
- Global wool scouring water use was 50 liters per kg in 2022 average.
- Australian Responsible Wool Standard certified 50% of production in 2022.
- World wool land use for grazing was 1.2 billion hectares in 2022.
- EU wool supply chain reduced water consumption 15% by 2022 targets.
- Global wool pesticide use in sheep dips fell 40% since 2010 to 2022.
- Australian wool farms soil carbon sequestration averaged 1.2 t/ha/year in 2022.
- World wool biodiversity impact on grasslands rated low in 70% farms 2022.
- New Zealand wool energy intensity dropped to 80 MJ/kg in 2022.
- Global recycled content in wool products reached 25% in 2022.
- US wool production water footprint was 500 liters/kg in 2022.
- Australian wool greenhouse gas emissions per kg declined 10% 2015-2022.
- World wool chemical effluent from processing reduced 20% in 2022.
- Sheep grazing for wool prevented 5% deforestation in key regions 2022.
- Global wool microplastic shedding from textiles was 0.5% of total in 2022.
- UK wool farms 40% organic certified in 2022.
- World wool supply chain Scope 3 emissions totaled 200 million tCO2e in 2022.
- Australian wool mulesing prevalence dropped to under 5% in 2022.
- Global wool renewable energy adoption in processing hit 35% in 2022.
- New Zealand wool phosphorus runoff reduced 25% via best practices 2022.
- World wool fibre biodegradability rated 98% in soil tests 2022.
Environmental Impact Interpretation
While the wool industry is still a significant contributor to global methane emissions and land use, its persistent and measurable progress in areas like reducing pesticide use, water consumption, and carbon footprints, while improving animal welfare and renewable energy adoption, suggests it is earnestly trying to shear its environmental problems rather than simply fleece the public with greenwash.
Market Trends
- Global wool trade volume was 460,000 tons in 2022.
- Australia exported 330,000 tons of greasy wool in 2022/23.
- China imported 320,000 tons of wool in 2022, 70% from Australia.
- World wool price for 28-micron wool averaged $8.20/kg in 2022.
- New Zealand wool export volume fell 8% to 130,000 tons in 2022/23.
- EU imported $1.5 billion worth of raw wool in 2022.
- Global demand for Merino wool grew 3.5% in 2022.
- Australian Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) peaked at 1,450¢/kg in March 2022.
- World top wool importers: China 40%, India 12%, Italy 8% in 2022.
- Wool fibre consumption in apparel reached 1.2 million tons in 2022.
- US wool imports totaled 12,000 tons in 2022, mostly fine wool.
- Global organic wool market grew 12% to $450 million in 2022.
- South Korea wool imports valued $500 million in 2022.
- World wool stock levels dropped 15% to 250,000 tons by end-2022.
- Indian wool imports surged 20% to 45,000 tons in 2022.
- Premium wool segment (under 23 microns) captured 35% market share in 2022.
- Australian wool to China exports were 75% of total in 2022.
- Global wool futures trading volume increased 25% in 2022.
- Turkey wool consumption rose to 55,000 tons in 2022.
- World recycled wool market size was $1.8 billion in 2022.
- EMI average for 2022 was 1,280¢/kg clean.
- Vietnam emerged as top 10 wool importer with 15,000 tons in 2022.
- Global wool in technical textiles grew 5% to 80,000 tons in 2022.
- World wool export concentration: top 5 exporters 70% in 2022.
- Digital wool auctions accounted for 60% of sales in 2022.
Market Trends Interpretation
While Australia practically shears the competition to clothe the world, with China snapping up most of the fleece and everyone else scrambling for the finer threads, the global wool trade is a high-stakes, digitally-auctioned tapestry woven from sheer volume, volatile prices, and surprisingly robust demand for everything from Merino sweaters to technical textiles.
Production Statistics
- In 2022, global wool production reached 1.95 million metric tons of greasy wool, a 2.3% increase from 2021.
- Australia produced 367,000 metric tons of greasy wool in 2022/23, representing 24.5% of world production.
- New Zealand's wool production for the 2022/23 season was 142,000 metric tons, down 5% from the previous year due to lower sheep numbers.
- China's wool production in 2022 was approximately 180,000 metric tons, primarily from Xinjiang region.
- The United States produced 18,500 metric tons of wool in 2022, a decline of 3.2% year-over-year.
- Uruguay's greasy wool production hit 40,200 metric tons in 2022, up 4.1% driven by improved yields.
- South Africa's commercial wool clip in 2022/23 was 12,500 metric tons, with Merino wool comprising 85%.
- Argentina produced 37,000 metric tons of wool in 2022, focusing on fine Merino varieties.
- United Kingdom wool production in 2022 was 22,000 metric tons, stable from prior years.
- Iran's wool production reached 85,000 metric tons in 2022, mostly coarse wool.
- Global wool scouring capacity stands at 2.2 million tons annually as of 2023.
- In 2022, fine wool (under 25 microns) accounted for 45% of total greasy wool production worldwide.
- Australian Merino wool production averaged 4.5 kg per sheep in 2022/23.
- World sheep population for wool production was estimated at 1.1 billion heads in 2022.
- New Zealand strong wool production was 115,000 tons in 2022/23, 80% of total.
- EU-27 wool production totaled 65,000 metric tons in 2022.
- India's wool production in 2022 was 55,000 tons, largely carpet wool.
- World greasy wool production per capita fell to 0.24 kg in 2022.
- Mongolia produced 18,000 tons of raw wool in 2022.
- Lesotho's wool production reached 4,200 tons in 2022, up 10%.
- Global wool production growth averaged 1.8% annually from 2018-2022.
- In 2022, superfine wool (under 19 microns) production was 120,000 tons globally.
- Australian wool harvest area covered 70 million hectares in 2022.
- World wool production excluding China was 1.77 million tons in 2022.
- New Zealand's wool yield per hectare was 120 kg in 2022/23.
- US wool production from Texas alone was 9,000 tons in 2022.
Production Statistics Interpretation
The global wool industry remains a surprisingly resilient and varied fleece, with Australia firmly shearing the lead while some nations face a decline in their flocks, yet the world's total clip still manages a modest annual growth—proving that while we may not be drowning in wool, we're certainly not left out in the cold.
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