Wool Market Size
| Study Period | 2019 - 2029 |
| Market Size (2024) | USD 38.97 Billion |
| Market Size (2029) | USD 45.61 Billion |
| CAGR (2024 - 2029) | 3.20 % |
| Fastest Growing Market | Europe |
| Largest Market | Asia-Pacific |
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Wool Market Analysis
The Wool Market size is estimated at USD 38.97 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 45.61 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 3.20% during the forecast period (2024-2029).
With the technological advancements in the wool manufacturing industry, there is a rapid development of spinning and weaving tools leading to increased sales of clothing across the globe. For instance, in November 2022, Savio announced the launch of an automatic new winding machine Proxima Smartconer in the Indian market. Such innovations are expected to increase productivity. Over the long term, growth opportunities mainly lie with millennial consumers whose purchasing behavior, such as the preference for quality, authenticity, and transparency, is driving the market for wool.
Various measures undertaken by the IWTO, a regulating authority for wool quality and traceability, are fetching higher prices for wool, thus encouraging production. Growing population and rising urbanization are the factors boosting the growth of the wool market. As the population increases, the demand for wool clothing rises. According to International Wool Textile Organization (IWTO), 50.0% weight of the wool is pure organic carbon. The factor driving wool demand is the increasing domestic consumption of luxury wool textiles in countries such as China, the United States, and Europe.
Moreover, the biodegradable quality of wool is also supporting the market. Wool is a natural decomposer since it is biodegradable and provides less harm to the environment. In addition, wool consists of thermal insulation properties making it suitable for consumers. All these factors are expected to increase the demand for wool, thus driving the market during the forecast period.
Wool Market Trends
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Wool Market according to our research experts:
Institutional Initiatives Ensuring the Quality is Driving the Production
According to WITO and the most recent available figures, around 1,949 million kg (2021) of raw wool was produced by around 1.2 billion sheep around the world, and the sheep population rose by 3.7 billion from 2020. The wool supply chain is long, with many steps en route from farm to fashion. To ensure transparency and quality and to facilitate the flow of information about wool to assure buyers of the qualities being purchased, institutions like IWTO have developed many traceability systems. One such system is the National Wool Declaration Integrity Program. The National Wool Declaration is an industry initiative recognized globally for its transparency and traceability from the farm. The NWD Integrity Program (NWD-IP) is an extensive program of Desktop Audits and On-Farm Inspections with the single purpose of building a wool pipeline and consumer confidence in Australian wool. With all these initiatives put forth by the regulating authority, wool is fetching a higher price because sheep rearing for wool is also increasing.
The increase in the sheep population across the globe owing to the demand is also supporting the growth. China is the leader in terms of sheep rearing globally. According to FAO, the sheep population in China increased from 163.49 million in 2019 to 173.01 million in 2020. Thus, the increasing sheep population and the institutional initiatives for ensuring quality are expected to drive wool production during the forecast period.
Asia-Pacific Dominates the Market
Wool is a commodity traded globally, and its diversity in the market is vast and ever-evolving. With most of the wool sold with an IWTO Test Certificate, the buyer's confidence in quality is guaranteed. The Asia-Pacific region is dominating the wool market with high production and exports. According to FAOSTAT, Australia, China, and New Zealand are the major producers of wool. According to ITC Trade, in 2020, Australia accounted for the highest exports worth USD 1,595,320 thousand, followed by China, accounting for exports worth USD 1,543,868 thousand in 2020, contributing 36.2% of the total export.
India exports woolen yarn fabrics, hand-made carpets, and ready-made garments to Italy, Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, Sri Lanka, Germany, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Sweden, the Netherlands, Oman, Afghanistan, and Tanzania, among others. The United States is a major importer of woolen products from India, with exports valued at USD 855.6 million in 2020-21. Woolen fabrics are mainly exported to Italy, Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, Sri Lanka, Germany, and Australia. During 2020-21, these countries imported INR 513.9 crore (USD 64.5 million) worth of yarn fabrics from India, representing a share of 64% of the total yarn exports. Italy was the major importer during the same period at 17.5%.
According to UN Comtrade, in 2021, the trade value of wool exported from Australia to China amounted to about USD 1.9 billion. This was the highest trade value of wool exported from Australia that year. Australia is the leading global supplier of wool and the world's largest wool export nation, accounting for 39% of global wool exports. Given the dominance of fine Merino production in Australia, Australian wool is typically retailed as high-end fashion and lightweight knitwear. With the trend toward eco-friendly, sustainable, and biodegradable parameters in the Asia-Pacific apparel industry, the demand for wool is growing as it provides comfort. Thus, the market is driven explicitly by the millennial and Gen Z population in the region.
Wool Market News
August 2022: Ministry of Textiles, India, approved the Pashmina Wool Development Scheme under IWDP with a budget allocation of INR 29.25 crore for 2021-22 to 2025-26.
March 2022: Under IWDP, the ministry of India allocated INR 126 crore (USD 1.66 million) as a part of a five-year plan (i.e., 2021-22 to 2025-26). This scheme aims to harmonize the wool supply chain, link the wool industry and producers and provide a marketing platform to the smaller woolen products manufacturers in India.
February 2021: In order to tackle the global fashion industry's impact on the environment, the New Zealand Merino Company (NZM) and global Merino wool apparel and footwear brands All birds, icebreaker, and Smartwool announced that they were working with 167 sheep growers to create the world's first regenerative wool platform, representing 2.4 million acres in New Zealand.
Wool Market Report - Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition
1.2 Scope of the Study
2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
4. MARKET DYNAMICS
4.1 Market Overview
4.2 Market Drivers
4.3 Market Restraints
4.4 Value Chain Analysis
5. MARKET SEGMENTATION
5.1 Geography (Production Analysis, Consumption Analysis by Value and Volume, Import Analysis by Value and Volume, Export Analysis by Value and Volume, and Price Trend Analysis)
5.1.1 United States
5.1.2 Mexico
5.1.3 Germany
5.1.4 Belgium
5.1.5 United Kingdom
5.1.6 Netherlands
5.1.7 Turkey
5.1.8 China
5.1.9 Australia
5.1.10 New Zealand
5.1.11 Morocco
6. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS
Wool Industry Segmentation
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and other mammals, especially goats, rabbits, and camelids.
The wool market is segmented by geography into the United States, Mexico, Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Turkey, China, Australia, New Zealand, and Morocco. The report includes production analysis (volume), consumption analysis (value and volume), export analysis (value and volume), import analysis (value and volume), and price trend analysis. The report offers the market size and forecasts in terms of volume (in metric tons) and value (in USD thousand) for all the above segments.
| Geography (Production Analysis, Consumption Analysis by Value and Volume, Import Analysis by Value and Volume, Export Analysis by Value and Volume, and Price Trend Analysis) | |
| United States | |
| Mexico | |
| Germany | |
| Belgium | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Netherlands | |
| Turkey | |
| China | |
| Australia | |
| New Zealand | |
| Morocco |
Wool Market Research FAQs
How big is the Wool Market?
The Wool Market size is expected to reach USD 38.97 billion in 2024 and grow at a CAGR of 3.20% to reach USD 45.61 billion by 2029.
What is the current Wool Market size?
In 2024, the Wool Market size is expected to reach USD 38.97 billion.
Which is the fastest growing region in Wool Market?
Europe is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period (2024-2029).
Which region has the biggest share in Wool Market?
In 2024, the Asia-Pacific accounts for the largest market share in Wool Market.
What years does this Wool Market cover, and what was the market size in 2023?
In 2023, the Wool Market size was estimated at USD 37.76 billion. The report covers the Wool Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The report also forecasts the Wool Market size for years: 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029.
What are the key growth opportunities in the Wool Industry?
The key growth opportunities in the Wool Industry are a) Rising demand for sustainable and eco-friendly textiles b) Increasing use of wool in home textiles, furniture upholstery, and technical applications like insulation
Wool Industry Report
The woolen industry is on a significant growth path, with advancements in wool production techniques and a shift towards sustainable and ethical practices. Driven by millennial consumers' demand for quality, authenticity, and eco-friendliness, the global market for wool is expected to see continued expansion. The production of wool is receiving a boost from regulatory bodies enforcing quality and traceability measures, alongside a growing sheep population to meet worldwide demand. The Asia-Pacific region, particularly Australia, China, and New Zealand, is leading in wool production and export, highlighting a global trend towards eco-friendly and comfortable woolen products. Online retail channels are gaining importance, indicating shifts in consumer purchasing behaviors. For detailed insights into wool market share, size, and revenue growth, Mordor Intelligence™ provides comprehensive analysis and forecasts, available for download as a free PDF report, spotlighting this industry's future trends and opportunities.
