Wool: Movement

How raw fleece flows from Australia to China

What this tab covers How it flows between countries: the largest bilateral trade routes drawn on a world map, 2024 UN Comtrade export and import values with the top exporters and importers by share, plus shipping routes, chokepoints and trade restrictions.

UN Comtrade data for greasy wool (HS 5101) show $2.7 billion of exports in 2024. Australia supplied 65.9% by value, New Zealand 10.6% and South Africa 9.3%, with Uruguay and the United Kingdom far behind. China dominates the other side, taking 73.4% of imports for its scouring and topmaking mills, which re-export yarn, fabric and garments. India (7.3%) and Italy (4.8%) are the main secondary buyers, followed by Czechia. Radetzki & Wårell, looking at all wool exports in 2015-2017, recorded Australia above 30% and found the top five exporters supplied 67%.

Where it is exported from and imported to, 2024

Chart: World map of the largest trade flows

Exporter (size = share of world exports) Importer (share of world imports) Shipping chokepoint UN Comtrade 2024. Bubbles: shares of reported world exports and imports for the main traded form. Country-to-country route lines are not available for this commodity yet. Hover a circle for values.

Raw wool · HS 5101

World exports 2024 $2.71 bn sum of 40 reporting countries World imports 2024 $2.76 bn sum of 40 reporting countries Top exporters, share of value Australia 65.9% New Zealand 10.6% South Africa 9.3% Uruguay 2.8% United Kingdom 2.2% Lesotho 1.4% Top importers, share of value China 73.4% India 7.3% Italy 4.8% Czechia 3.2% United Kingdom 1.5% South Africa 1.4% UN Comtrade, reporter declarations to the world, US$. Exports and imports are reported separately, so totals differ. Re-exporting hubs (Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, UAE) can appear large.