Top 10 Wool Production Countries – Woolen Textile Industry Producers

The Woolen Industry makes varieties of cloth with different types of wool. By using long fibers of Merinos, worsted clothes are produced. Tweed, Blankets, and Flannel are produced by using short fibers called woolen clothes. Shoddy clothes are made by mixing some new with old cloth. Wool as a raw material is impure and highly variable fiber and is sold in the form of fleece wool, clipped from the sheep. After arriving in the mill, the wool undergoes a cleaning process that shrinks its weight by one-third or even up to two-third-dirt, and grease is removed from raw wool. After cleaning, spinning, weaving, and filling, finishing is done.

Most of the natural fibers utilized for modern textiles are the very ones used in the far-distance past, near about 1700 B.C. For many centuries the making of textiles was an important handy craft and household industry. After the industrial revolution, machine fabrication changed the ages-old household art into both an art and a science. The wool production manufacturing industry is perhaps older than the cotton textile industry. People of high and middle latitudes early recognized the virtues of wool in their cold milieus: because of its long fibers covered with barbs, which could preserve heat and absorb moisture.

Uses of Wool

Following are some of the main uses of wool:

• It is used to make woolen yarn which is used to make woolen sweaters, gloves, and caps.
• It is used to make clothes, especially coats, and trousers. Socks, cardigans, and other fleece items also consist of wool.
• Wool-insulated outerwear is used to keep you warm during the winter and balances the thermal balance of the body.
• Wool is also used to make activewear, usually worn during exercise. The moisture management property of wool helps to prevent the itchy feeling due to sweating.
• It is also used while designing clothes for firefighters. It does not melt or shrink when exposed to high temperatures.
• High-quality wool is also used in making carpets.
• It is used in soft furnishings and bedding. Household items like blinds, cushions, wallpapers, and lampshades all involve wool.
• Duvets, quilts, and blankets have wool in them to keep you warm in cold weather.
• Wool is also used in insulating walls and buildings.
• A by-product of wool, lanolin is used in adhesive tapes and provides auto lubrication.

Factors for the Development of the Wool Textile Industry

The physical and Socio-Economic factors are responsible for the location and development of the textile industry. The Initial Factors are:

• Raw material
• Climate
• Energy resources
• Water availability
• Availability of Market
• Location Factor
• Sufficient amount of Capital
• Skill Labour Force
• Government Patronage
• Government Policy for Industrial Development
• Means of Transportation
• Industrial Solid Waste Management
• Availability of the latest technology

Top 10 Wool Production Industry by Country

Based on the quantity, the woolen industry is limited and distributed only to specific places in Europe, North America, and North-East and Southern Asia. The modern woolen industry developed in Central Europe and after the Industrial Revolution, it was revolutionized in the United Kingdom. Then it spread to European countries and North America and Asian countries. The following are the top ten countries prominent in the woolen industry.

China

After the Revolution of 1949, wool manufacturing was largely replaced by the machine industry. Today, China ranks first in manufacturing in the world. The harsh climate and population have created a large local market. China produces large quantities of woolen, worsted, hosiery, and blankets for home and international markets. Machine carpet manufacturing is also one of the largest industries in China. Shanghai and Canton are major wool manufacturing centers in China. Despite being on the top of the list for wool production, China has to import a large quantity of wool to fulfill the needs of the huge population. In 2022-2021, China spent $2.5B on wool imports. They mostly import from Australia which comes in the 2^nd position for wool production.

Australia

Australia contributes 16% of the global share of wool production. They are the largest wool exporter in the world. In 2021, Australia earned 2.28 billion dollars from its wool exports. Wool is produced in all states of Australia including New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, and Western Australia. However, the Northern Territory does not produce any wool. The climate of Australia is such that it supports the life of Merino sheep, known for their exceptional quality of wool. Merino wool from Australia is used in 90% of the apparel worldwide. 71.6 million sheep were shorn in the year 2021-2022.

New Zealand

New Zealand comes in 3^rd position in the world’s largest wool producers list. It has an 8-9% global share of wool production in the world. New Zealand’s wool is coarser than Australian wool and is used in making carpets. Most of this type of wool is grown in Southland and Green Hills. During the Korean War, the USA imported large quantities of wool from New Zealand. Earlier there were almost 70 million sheep responsible for producing tons of wool but later this number decreased to 26 million. However, the sheep in New Zealand are shorn twice a year which makes New Zealand a top wool-producing country.

Turkey

Turkey is known for its influential textile industry, with more than 35000 textile companies. Turkey shares 4% of the global production of wool. In 2020, it produced 79,754 tons of wool. Turkey’s most famous type of wool is Kivircik wool. It is grown mainly in the Thrace region around Havza, Edirne, and Luleburgaz. Most commonly this type of wool is used in hand knitting and weaving cloth. The domestic wool production in Turkey is not sufficient to fulfill the needs of the entire Turkish Textile Industry, so they import wool from other countries such as Australia, China, and New Zealand. In 2021, Turkey spent 273K dollars on wool imports.

United Kingdom and Northern Ireland

The U.K. pioneered the production of woolen goods, it developed as early as the 13th century, and the United Kingdom dominated woolen textiles for 700 years, from the 12th century to the 19th century. The Industrial Revolution had a profound effect on the geography of the industry. The West Riding of Yorkshire has about 85% of Britain’s woolen operatives. The chief centers are Bradford, Huddersfield, and Leeds. Other areas of manufacturing are the Tweed Valley of Scotland, Lancashire, and southeast England. There are 45,000 sheep farmers and 34 million sheep in the UK responsible for producing 70,000 tons of wool every year.

Morocco

Morocco is the 6^th largest wool producer in the world. It is used in the production of clothes, carpets, and tents. Wool production has continuously increased in the country for the past 40 years. In 1977, wool production was recorded at 11,000 tons and since then it has increased almost 5 times as in 2020, the wool production is recorded at almost 60,000 tons. The wool trading is very strong in Morocco, most of the wool is exported to France and Belgium. From France, it earned $224k, and from Belgium $128k. on the other hand, Morocco imports wool from New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Greece.

Iran

In 2020, Iran was recorded to produce 58,372 tons of wool making it the 7^th largest wool producer in the world. Iranian wool is thicker and is used in making carpets. The two famous zones for producing wool in Iran are Kermanshah and Khorasan. There are over 102 industrial wool spinning mills in Iran, responsible for producing 24,000 tons of yarn per year. In 2019, Iran was the 15^th highest importer of wool as it bought $17.9 million worth of wool. Iran imports mainly from, Australia, New Zealand, and Germany. Most of the domestic production of wool is utilized in the carpet business of the country.

Russia

Russia ranks in the 8^th position among the largest wool-producing countries. Russian woolen industry was located in Moscow and Leningrad, while Black Earth Centre and Central Volga region also produce the course, woolen products. After the Second World War, the woolen industry was shifted to the wool-producing regions of the Central Asian states of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. After the independence of Central Asian States in 1991, Russian Federation imports wool from these states, and the Moscow region has become the main center for wool manufacturing. There are almost 25 million sheep in Russia and among them, 60% are Merino sheep, producing the world’s finest quality wool.

South Africa

South Africa has a strong history of wool textile industries. In the 1700s, merino sheep were brought to Cape which produced ”cape wool.” This type of wool is less elastic than Australian wool and is mainly used in making shawls and hosiery. Since then, Eastern Cape is the ideal place for wool production in South Africa. More than 100 million kg of wool is obtained from 27000 wool producers. Commercial wool producers are responsible for producing 80% of the entire wool clip of the country. The wool textile industry contributes a major role in the country’s economy and trade. In 2021, South Africa earned 325 million dollars by exporting wool to China, Germany, and Italy.

India

India is in the 10^th position of the world’s largest wool producers. It shares 3% of the global share of wool production in the world. Indian wool is a bit rough and is known as ”carpet-grade,” a type mainly used to make carpets and rugs. Woolen manufacturing was the age-old industry cottage in the northwestern states of India, particularly the valley of Kashmir is notable. While the first modern woolen textile mill was established in 1876 at Kanpur. Punjab, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh are the foremost producers of woolen goods in India, they account for 73% of the total spindle-age capacity. While Gujrat, Karnataka, West Bengal, and Jammu & Kashmir are next in importance. Punjab is leading in the woolen industry, Dariwal, Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Kharar are the main centers.

Top Ten Wool Producing Countries and Their Imports and Exports

Wool is an important part of a country’s economy. These countries earn through the import and export of the wool they produce each year. The following table mentions these countries along with their imports and imports in value.

Other Countries of the World Producing Wool

Following are some of the other countries producing wool:

• The United States of America
• Argentina
• Japan
• France
• Pakistan
• Germany
• Sudan
• Peru
• Canada
• Uruguay
• Portugal

Conclusion

Wool is a popular textile fiber obtained from sheep and some types of goats. It is an important part of any textile industry. It is utilized in making different clothing items such as sweaters, cardigans, socks, and gloves. They provide insulation and manage the thermal balance of the body. The world’s largest wool-producing countries include China, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Morocco, Iran, Russia, South Africa, and India. Wool plays an important role in the economy of these countries by providing jobs to millions and earning a great deal from exports and imports.

Methew Harbor

Matthew is a Co-Founder at BusinessFinanceArticles.org. Matthew was a floor manager at a local restaurant in Wales. He lost his job after the pandemic and took initiative to make a team and start the project.