Wool: Criticality

The real risk is a shrinking flock, not scarcity

What this tab covers How exposed economies are to a supply disruption: the EU, US and India listings, the concentration score, and a quantified exposure for the US, EU, India, China, Japan, Latin America, the Middle East and Australia. Where the EU scored it, a chart of supply risk against economic importance, with import reliance, recycling input and substitutes.

Exposure by region

Region	Exposure	Share of world output	Share of world imports	Share of world exports	Net trade (US$)	On own critical list	Position
US	Low	0.7%	0.4%	0.6%	+$5.65 m	No	Small producer and small importer of greasy wool (0.4% of world import value, 2024); imports wool mainly as garments (UN Comtrade).
EU	High	0.0%	12.1%	2.9%	−$255.5 m	No	Small producer that imports for Italian and Czech processing (4.8% and 3.2% of world greasy wool import value, 2024) (UN Comtrade).
India	High	2.0%	7.3%	0.0%	−$202.1 m	No	Produces 34.6 million kg of mostly coarse wool (2024-25) and is the second-largest greasy wool importer at 7.3% of world value (DAHD; UN Comtrade 2024).
China	High	21.5%	73.4%	1.2%	−$1.99 bn	No	Largest grower (21.5% of world output) and the dominant importer (73.4% of import value) and processor (FAOSTAT; UN Comtrade 2024).
Japan	Low	0.0%	0.4%	0.0%	−$10.5 m	No	Very small importer of greasy wool (0.4% of world import value, 2024), buying mainly yarn and fabric instead (UN Comtrade).
Latin America	Low	5.2%	0.6%	4.6%	+$110.0 m	no list	Uruguay (2.8% of export value) and Argentina (0.8%) export Merino wool (UN Comtrade 2024).
Middle East	Low	6.8%	0.1%	0.1%	+$2.01 m	no list	Turkey grows 5.0% of world wool (2024) for its carpet and textile industries but trades little greasy wool (FAOSTAT; UN Comtrade).
Australia	Low	16.6%	0.2%	65.9%	+$1.78 bn	No	Supplies 65.9% of world greasy wool export value and grew 16.6% of world output in 2024 (UN Comtrade; FAOSTAT).

Exposure rating: High when the region is a net importer whose import share is at least three times its share of world output (or, for farm goods, it produces under 70% of what it consumes); Medium for other net importers (or 70-95% self-sufficiency), raised to High when world supply is highly concentrated in another country; Low for net exporters or self-sufficient regions. Net importer status uses tonnage where reported, otherwise value. Output: FAOSTAT, 2024. Trade: UN Comtrade 2024 (EU = sum of member states, including intra-EU trade). Critical lists: US 2025, EU 2024/1252, India 2023, China 2016 strategic minerals, Japan METI, Australia 2024.

Wool is on neither the US 2025 nor the India 2023 critical list, and synthetics can replace it in most uses, so supply risk is low. The concern runs the other way: a shrinking world flock threatens the industry's scale in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Climate risk takes the form of drought, which forces destocking. Animal-welfare pressure, such as campaigns against mulesing in Australia, affects market access. Heavy dependence on Chinese processing leaves growers exposed to Chinese demand and trade policy.

EU 2023 Not assessed US 2025 list No India 2023 list No Production HHI 916 unconcentrated