#Raw Materials

2022-05-12

A comprehensive guide to the wool market

The global wool industry is thriving, diverse, highly sustainable and lucrative sector. For those working in or with the wool sector, it is important to understand its key facts and statistics. Here is a brief introduction to today’s wool textile industry. For a more complete picture, you can purchase a copy of International Wool Textile Organisation’s Market Information document – find out how here.

Understanding the Global Wool Textile Industry

Wool is a globally traded commodity, with 1,949.5 mkg (million kilograms) of it bought and sold around the world each year. It is a fibre with incredibly diverse uses. It is a primary input in sectors such as fashion, activewear, interiors, flooring, aviation, architecture and manufacturing. Its utility gets pushed even further every year, as research and development reveal more and more benefits.

The industry employs millions of people in a variety of roles, from farm hands to textile workers and retail staff. According to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), 300 million of poor rural families rely on small ruminants like sheep to make their living.

Wool Sheep

Most people don’t realise how many sheep there are in the world – or how many species exist. Roughly 1.2 billion sheep produce the world’s wool, and the sheep farming experts count no fewer than 1,000 different breeds. Merino or Rambouillet sheep produce the best wools for apparel, whereas Romney or Scottish Blackface sheep are chosen for their coarse wools which are used for décor and carpets.

The Role of The IWTO

The IWTO is the primary global body for the wool trade, industry, advocacy and networking. A major part of the organisation’s role consists of compiling reliable statistics. IWTO’s Market Intelligence Committee produces an annual compilation of the wool market’s facts and figures, spanning every area of the sector from farming to retail. The report is known simply as the IWTO Market Information, and is authored by a team of experts led by Poimena Analysis. This team collects and analyses wool industry data and generates charts and tables that explain the latest developments in wool production.

Learn All You Need to Know About the International Wool Industry

You can read a sample chapter from the IWTO’s Market information document or purchase the entire document here:

https://iwto.org/resources/statistics/

For more information on the wool industry around the world, take a look at the many fact sheets, statistics and guidelines on IWTO’s Wool Resources page:

https://iwto.org/resources/

Texprocess 2026: Automation, digitalisation and AI redefine textile processing

Making investment decisions in textile processing has become significantly more demanding. Increasing energy costs, a shortage of skilled labour and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties are compelling companies to focus on technologies that deliver clear gains in efficiency and process reliability. This applies equally to apparel manufacturing and to the processing of technical textiles and high-performance materials. As a result, modernisation initiatives are assessed more carefully – even as the need to upgrade production systems continues to intensify.

Techtextil 2026: Between innovation pressure & market reality

From 21 to 24 April 2026, Techtextil in Frankfurt am Main will once again become the central meeting point for the international technical textiles and nonwovens industry. Running in parallel, Texprocess will focus on the industrial implementation of textile processing technologies as the leading platform in this field. Together, the two trade fairs form a closely integrated presentation and working platform along the entire textile value chain – from material development to finished applications.

Between geopolitical pressure and industrial resilience

In this interview, Dr. Janpeter Horn (VDMA) discusses the current challenges facing textile machinery manufacturers, shaped by geopolitical tensions, regulatory developments and subdued investment. He also outlines why innovation strength, integrated solutions and strategic positioning remain key to global competitiveness.

Lenzing commissions 14 MW power‑to‑heat facility, strengthening grid stability and heat management

The Lenzing Group has successfully commissioned a new power‑to‑heat (P2H) facility with an electrical capacity of 14 megawatts. The installation converts renewable electricity directly into process heat, is fully integrated into the existing heat network at the industrial site, and represents a key building block for a fossil‑free heat supply. As project partner, VERBUND was responsible for the energy‑market integration and will operate the facility for balancing energy marketing, enabling it to respond flexibly to short‑term fluctuations in the power grid.

Kraig Biocraft reaches next step in production growth

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. (OTCQB: KBLB) (“the Company”, “Kraig Labs”, or “Kraig’s”), a world leader in spider silk technology*, today announced that it has produced more than 1.3 metric tons of recombinant spider silk cocoons in a single month. This is a new world record and shatters the Company’s previous production record by a factor of five. Today marks a pivotal step forward in the transition of spider silk from laboratory innovation to an industrial-scale material platform.

New study shows low environmental impact by Cotton made in Africa Organic Cotton from Tanzania

Today, the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) is announcing the results of a comprehensive life-cycle analysis (LCA) for cotton produced in Tanzania under the Cotton made in Africa Organic (CmiA Organic) standard. The study emphasises the small ecological footprint of CmiA Organic verified cotton. This can largely be traced back to the absence of synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilisers, and artificial irrigation. Consequently, CmiA Organic cotton can help the textile industry meet regulatory requirements as well as science-based targets. The results also show that the consequences of climate change threaten the livelihoods of these cotton farmers, even though the type of agriculture they practise barely contributes to climate change.

Speed and connectivity: Techtextil and Texprocess provided market-ready solutions for industries under pressure

With more than 36,000 visitors and 1,700 exhibitors from a total of 112 countries, Techtextil and Texprocess 2026 demonstrated how innovation comes into industrial use. The convergence of research, industry and application proved to be a breeding ground for new material solutions, manufacturing and processing technologies. Natural fibres, performance apparel, connected systems and AI-driven processing technologies emerged as key growth and future markets.

Italian Textile Machinery heads to Geneva for Index 2026

An important delegation of Italian companies will exhibit at the upcoming INDEX 2026, the world’s leading event for the nonwovens sector, taking place from May 19 to 22 in Geneva (Switzerland). Numerous Italian exhibitors will be present within the Italy Pavilion, organized by the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) and ACIMIT, an exhibition area of over 140 square meters dedicated to the latest innovations proposed by the Italian industry.