Wool, greasy production by country
World production of wool, greasy reached 1.7 million t in 2024, down 16% over ten years. The largest producers were China (21.5%), Australia (16.6%), New Zealand (7.4%), together 45% of the world total.
- World production, 2024
- 1.7 million t
- 10-year change
- −16%
- Producing countries
- 69
- Largest producer
- China
World production, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Map of wool, greasy production, 2024
Share of the world total. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
Producers ranked, 2024
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share | 10-year change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 364,481 | 21.5% | −21% |
| 2 | Australia | 281,000 | 16.6% | −20% |
| 3 | New Zealand E | 124,951 | 7.37% | −18% |
| 4 | Turkey | 84,270 | 4.97% | +44% |
| 5 | United Kingdom I | 68,520 | 4.04% | +1.6% |
| 6 | Morocco E | 62,899 | 3.71% | +8.9% |
| 7 | Turkmenistan | 49,361 | 2.91% | +28% |
| 8 | Iran E | 48,168 | 2.84% | −20% |
| 9 | Russia I | 43,564 | 2.57% | −23% |
| 10 | South Africa I | 43,355 | 2.56% | −4.1% |
| 11 | Pakistan E | 41,877 | 2.47% | −5.0% |
| 12 | Uzbekistan | 39,864 | 2.35% | +17% |
| 13 | Kazakhstan | 36,339 | 2.14% | −3.8% |
| 14 | Algeria I | 35,270 | 2.08% | −4.1% |
| 15 | India | 33,690 | 1.99% | −30% |
| 16 | Argentina | 32,040 | 1.89% | −30% |
| 17 | Indonesia E | 24,963 | 1.47% | −11% |
| 18 | Uruguay I | 23,010 | 1.36% | −36% |
| 19 | Syria | 20,381 | 1.20% | +5.4% |
| 20 | Azerbaijan I | 14,730 | 0.87% | −12% |
| 21 | Saudi Arabia E | 14,368 | 0.85% | +19% |
| 22 | Mongolia E | 14,112 | 0.83% | −12% |
| 23 | Iraq E | 13,869 | 0.82% | −17% |
| 24 | Afghanistan E | 12,910 | 0.76% | −15% |
| 25 | Egypt I | 12,058 | 0.71% | +9.6% |
| 26 | Kyrgyzstan I | 11,981 | 0.71% | +1.5% |
| 27 | United States | 11,240 | 0.66% | −7.2% |
| 28 | Libya I | 10,387 | 0.61% | +6.9% |
| 29 | Yemen E | 9,396 | 0.55% | +14% |
| 30 | Tunisia I | 9,332 | 0.55% | −13% |
| 31 | Lesotho I | 8,165 | 0.48% | +123% |
| 32 | Peru | 8,031 | 0.47% | −19% |
| 33 | Tajikistan E | 7,860 | 0.46% | +16% |
| 34 | Tanzania I | 7,570 | 0.45% | +11% |
| 35 | Brazil | 7,472 | 0.44% | −37% |
| 36 | Ethiopia I | 7,127 | 0.42% | −10% |
| 37 | Chile E | 5,988 | 0.35% | −20% |
| 38 | Jordan I | 4,697 | 0.28% | +9.0% |
| 39 | Colombia E | 4,566 | 0.27% | +9.9% |
| 40 | Mexico | 3,831 | 0.23% | −22% |
| 41 | Norway | 3,011 | 0.18% | −24% |
| 42 | Lebanon E | 2,863 | 0.17% | +18% |
| 43 | Zimbabwe E | 2,696 | 0.16% | +18% |
| 44 | Bangladesh E | 2,528 | 0.15% | +9.9% |
| 45 | Serbia | 2,498 | 0.15% | −7.0% |
| 46 | Albania | 2,234 | 0.13% | −28% |
| 47 | Bolivia | 2,077 | 0.12% | +11% |
| 48 | Kenya I | 2,064 | 0.12% | −2.5% |
| 49 | Georgia | 1,800 | 0.11% | −14% |
| 50 | Bosnia and Herzegovina I | 1,429 | 0.08% | +9.3% |
| 51 | Armenia | 1,411 | 0.08% | −4.5% |
| 52 | Eritrea E | 1,345 | 0.08% | +11% |
| 53 | Namibia E | 1,256 | 0.07% | −21% |
| 54 | Israel E | 1,219 | 0.07% | +11% |
| 55 | Canada I | 1,177 | 0.07% | −8.7% |
| 56 | Ukraine | 1,119 | 0.07% | −57% |
| 57 | Moldova I | 1,093 | 0.06% | −44% |
| 58 | Ecuador E | 1,024 | 0.06% | −24% |
| 59 | Kuwait E | 996 | 0.06% | +64% |
| 60 | Myanmar E | 809 | 0.05% | +16% |
| 61 | North Macedonia I | 691 | 0.04% | −17% |
| 62 | Paraguay E | 645 | 0.04% | −40% |
| 63 | Switzerland | 618 | 0.04% | +10% |
| 64 | Iceland | 553 | 0.03% | −23% |
| 65 | Nepal | 390 | 0.02% | −34% |
| 66 | Mali E | 252 | 0.01% | −18% |
| 67 | Montenegro E | 229 | 0.01% | −3.8% |
| 68 | Malaysia E | 169 | 0.01% | +6.3% |
| 69 | Belarus | 84 | 0.00% | −25% |
E = estimated by FAO, I = imputed by FAO, X = from an external organisation; other figures are official.
How concentrated is production?
The largest producer, China, accounts for 21.5% of the world total in 2024; the five largest for 54.4% and the ten largest for 69.0%.
| Year | Top 5 share | Top 10 share | Countries with data |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 58.7% | 69.8% | 94 |
| 2005 | 55.4% | 66.4% | 93 |
| 2010 | 51.8% | 64.1% | 95 |
| 2015 | 53.2% | 66.6% | 94 |
| 2020 | 52.9% | 68.3% | 69 |
| 2024 | 54.4% | 69.0% | 69 |
By continent, 2024
| Continent | Production | Share of world | Share in 2014 | 10-year change | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asia | 859,502 t | 50.7% | 46.8% | −9.3% | 28 |
| Oceania | 405,951 t | 23.9% | 24.8% | −19% | 2 |
| Africa | 203,776 t | 12.0% | 9.7% | +3.4% | 14 |
| Europe | 125,643 t | 7.4% | 11.9% | −48% | 13 |
| South America | 84,853 t | 5.0% | 5.9% | −29% | 9 |
| North and Central America | 16,248 t | 1.0% | 0.9% | −11% | 3 |
Sums of country figures; the world total also includes countries without a continent assignment, so shares may not add up to 100%.
Fastest growing and declining producers, 2014–2024
Countries with at least 0.5% of world production in 2024, change over ten years.
Growing
| Turkey | 84,270 t | +44% |
| Turkmenistan | 49,361 t | +28% |
| Saudi Arabia | 14,368 t | +19% |
| Uzbekistan | 39,864 t | +17% |
| Yemen | 9,396 t | +14% |
Long-term trend, 1961–2024
- Average growth per year, 1961–2024
- −0.7%
- Average growth per year, last 10 years
- −1.8%
- Record year
- 1990 3.3 million t
- Largest yearly fall
- 1992 −9.5%
| Decade | Average per year | vs previous decade |
|---|---|---|
| 1960s (1961–1969) | 2.7 million t | — |
| 1970s | 2.7 million t | +0.3% |
| 1980s | 3.0 million t | +8.5% |
| 1990s | 2.7 million t | −8.8% |
| 2000s | 2.1 million t | −21% |
| 2010s | 2.0 million t | −8.1% |
| 2020s (2020–2024) | 1.7 million t | −11% |
Production per person, 2024
World production of wool, greasy was 0.21 kg per person in 2024. The highest figures, among countries with at least 1 million inhabitants:
| # | Country | kg per person | Production |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Zealand | 24.0 | 124,951 t |
| 2 | Australia | 10.5 | 281,000 t |
| 3 | Uruguay | 6.79 | 23,010 t |
| 4 | Turkmenistan | 6.59 | 49,361 t |
| 5 | Mongolia | 4.06 | 14,112 t |
| 6 | Lesotho | 3.49 | 8,165 t |
| 7 | Kazakhstan | 1.76 | 36,339 t |
| 8 | Kyrgyzstan | 1.67 | 11,981 t |
| 9 | Morocco | 1.65 | 62,899 t |
| 10 | Azerbaijan | 1.43 | 14,730 t |
Production divided by population (FAOSTAT population estimates, 2024). Production per person is not consumption: countries export, import and use crops for feed, processing and industry.
International trade, 2024
Trade item: Shorn wool, greasy, including fleece-washed shorn wool. Other forms of this product (for example frozen, boneless, shelled, dried or processed) are separate FAO trade items that are not included here, so these figures cover only part of its trade.
- World exports
- 510,778 t
- Export value
- USD 2.30 bn
- Average export price
- 4.50 USD/kg
Australia was the largest exporter with 60.0% of the quantity reported by exporting countries; China was the largest importer with 70.8%. World exports fell 16% over ten years.
World exports, 2000–2024 (tonnes)
Largest exporters
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share | Value | USD/kg | 10-year change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 306,221 | 60.0% | USD 1.71 bn | 5.60 | +2.4% |
| 2 | South Africa | 48,490 | 9.5% | USD 252 m | 5.20 | +13% |
| 3 | New Zealand | 34,741 | 6.8% | USD 122 m | 3.50 | −23% |
| 4 | Uruguay | 14,100 | 2.8% | USD 50.5 m | 3.58 | +4.9% |
| 5 | France | 10,511 | 2.1% | USD 10.4 m | 0.99 | +18% |
| 6 | Argentina | 7,955 | 1.6% | USD 20.5 m | 2.57 | −40% |
| 7 | Brazil | 7,522 | 1.5% | USD 9.7 m | 1.29 | −18% |
| 8 | Spain | 6,986 | 1.4% | USD 7.4 m | 1.06 | −51% |
| 9 | Peru | 6,158 | 1.2% | USD 6.8 m | 1.11 | −24% |
| 10 | Italy | 6,002 | 1.2% | USD 3.8 m | 0.63 | −32% |
Largest importers
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share | Value | USD/kg | 10-year change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 275,145 | 70.8% | USD 1.95 bn | 7.08 | +5.5% |
| 2 | India | 32,501 | 8.4% | USD 112 m | 3.45 | −38% |
| 3 | Czechia | 22,727 | 5.8% | USD 87.0 m | 3.83 | −30% |
| 4 | United Kingdom | 9,701 | 2.5% | USD 10.1 m | 1.04 | +17% |
| 5 | Italy | 9,534 | 2.5% | USD 100 m | 10.51 | −46% |
| 6 | Uruguay | 9,533 | 2.5% | USD 14.6 m | 1.53 | −42% |
| 7 | South Africa | 6,482 | 1.7% | USD 37.6 m | 5.80 | +470% |
| 8 | Bulgaria | 5,710 | 1.5% | USD 22.1 m | 3.87 | +116% |
| 9 | Turkey | 4,627 | 1.2% | USD 1.8 m | 0.39 | −76% |
| 10 | Belgium | 4,142 | 1.1% | USD 2.5 m | 0.61 | −55% |
FAOSTAT detailed trade data (Crops and livestock products trade, release of 23 July 2026): quantities in tonnes and values in current US dollars as reported by countries; exports include re-exports. Shares are of the total reported by all exporting or importing countries. World exports and imports do not match because of timing, valuation (exports FOB, imports CIF) and gaps in reporting. Processed products such as juices, dried or canned goods are separate items.
Questions and answers
Which country produces the most wool, greasy?
China was the largest producer in 2024 with 364,481 t, 21.5% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
What is the world production of wool, greasy?
World production was 1.7 million t in 2024, −16% compared with 2014.
Which countries produce the most wool, greasy?
In 2024: China (364,481 t, 21.5%), Australia (281,000 t, 16.6%), New Zealand (124,951 t, 7.4%), Turkey (84,270 t, 5.0%), United Kingdom (68,520 t, 4.0%). Together they account for 54.4% of the world total.
Which country exports the most shorn wool, greasy, including fleece-washed shorn wool?
Australia exported 306,221 t in 2024, 60.0% of reported world exports, worth USD 1.71 bn, according to FAOSTAT trade data.
Which country imports the most shorn wool, greasy, including fleece-washed shorn wool?
China imported 275,145 t in 2024, 70.8% of reported world imports.
Where does this data come from?
Production and area figures are from FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (dataset Crops and livestock products, release of 23 December 2025). Shares, rankings, changes and averages are calculated by Husfarm.
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About the data
- Figures are production in tonnes as reported to or estimated by FAO for each calendar year; the latest year is 2024.
- Letters next to a country mark figures that are not official national data: E estimated by FAO, I imputed by FAO (filled in by a statistical model), X taken from an external organisation. Treat them as approximate.
- Shares are relative to the FAO world total; ten-year changes compare 2024 with 2014; average growth per year is the compound annual rate between the two years.
- Country series on Husfarm start in 2000; the world series starts in 1961.
Download CSV All countries and years: production and FAO flag.
How to cite: FAO (2025). FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products — Wool, greasy. Retrieved via Husfarm, https://husfarm.com/production/wool/. Licence CC BY 4.0.
Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. fao.org/faostat. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.