#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/

Performance Apparels: Functional textiles drive innovation at Techtextil 2026

From high-performance fibres and advanced membranes to smart textiles and sustainable material concepts – functional apparel is becoming one of the most dynamic innovation fields in technical textiles. At Techtextil 2026, exhibitors demonstrate how new materials, finishing technologies and digital functions are shaping the next generation of protective, workwear and outdoor systems.

Texprocess 2026: Automation, digitalisation and AI reshape textile processing

Investment decisions in textile processing have become increasingly complex. Rising energy prices, labour shortages and geopolitical uncertainties are forcing companies to prioritise technologies that deliver measurable improvements in efficiency and process stability. This applies not only to apparel production, but also to the processing of technical textiles and high-performance materials. Modernisation projects are therefore being evaluated more selectively – but the pressure to upgrade production systems continues to grow. Texprocess 2026 reflects this tension between cautious investment behaviour and increasing technological demand.

Textile Chemicals & Dyes: Innovation in Textile Chemistry moves into focus at Techtextil 2026

From PFAS-free finishes and water-saving dyeing technologies to advanced coatings and recycling-compatible formulations, innovation in textile chemistry is accelerating across the industry. Reflecting this development, Techtextil 2026 introduces Textile Chemicals & Dyes as a dedicated product segment, highlighting the growing role of chemical solutions in shaping the next generation of technical textiles.

textile.4U publishes special edition “Top 100 Textile Recycling Companies 2025”

With a comprehensive 176-page special edition, textile.4U is dedicating its latest issue entirely to one of the most dynamic and influential topics in today’s textile industry: textile recycling. The new issue, published exclusively in high-quality print, presents the Top 100 textile recycling companies researched and selected by TexData – organizations that already play a key role in the transition to circular textiles or are expected to have a significant impact in the near future.

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.

Textile Exchange publishes cotton Life Cycle Assessment study to strengthen impact data

Textile Exchange has published the first in a series of seven Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies designed to improve the quality and robustness of environmental impact data for raw material production across the fashion, textile, and apparel industry. The first LCA study focuses on cotton and addresses critical data gaps and methodology variability through new high-quality data across key producing countries. The study includes organic, regenerative, recycled, and country averages for conventional cotton production systems, providing a clearer picture of the associated environmental impact.

PERFORMANCE DAYS proves its relevance as the industry’s key meeting point

Held on March 18–19, 2026, PERFORMANCE DAYS once again confirmed its position as a leading international platform for functional textiles. A total of 3.366 trade visitors and around 560 exhibitors gathered in Munich, with the event already kicking off successfully on DAY 0, which received highly positive feedback for its interactive format. Despite challenging conditions caused by the public transport strike in Munich, the event saw strong attendance and a consistently high level of activity across both exhibition days.

Reju secures €135 Million in Dutch NIKI Funding for industrial-scale textile-to-textile regeneration hub at Chemelot Industrial Park, the Netherlands

Reju™, the progressive textile-to-textile regeneration company, has been awarded €135 million in funding under the Netherlands’ Nationale Investeringsregeling Klimaatprojecten Industrie (NIKI) program. The funding will support Reju’s planned industrial-scale Regeneration Hub at Chemelot Industrial Park in Sittard-Geleen, covering both the investment phase and ongoing operations, and represents a critical milestone on the path toward final investment decision.