Commodity Origins

How much wool does China produce and export?

China is the largest producer of wool: 364,481 tonnes in 2024, 21% of the world's 1.7 million tonnes (FAOSTAT). It is the nullth largest exporter by value: $38.4 million in 2024, 1.4% of world exports of greasy and scoured wool (HS 5101) (CEPII BACI).

All about wool · All about China · Wool price history

China's wool production

China wool production, 2024
World rankProduction (tonnes)Share of worldTen-year growthYear
1364,481 tonnes21%-2.3% a year2024

FAOSTAT Crops and livestock products (QCL), 2024. World total is the sum of reporting countries.

China wool production monthly prices, tonnes, Jan 1961 to Jan 2024Line chart of china wool production monthly prices in tonnes from Jan 1961 to Jan 2024: China wool production from 93,000 to 364,481, peaking at 471,111.0100,000200,000300,000400,000500,000196519701975198019851990199520002005201020152020tonnes
China wool production

Share of world output over time

China's share of world wool production in selected years
19902000201020202024
7.2%13%20%19%21%

Average annual share by decade: 1960s 3.8%, 1970s 4.9%, 1980s 6.7%, 1990s 10%, 2000s 17%, 2010s 21%, 2020s 20%. See the concentration-over-time report.

China's wool exports

China exports of Wool, not carded or combed, 2024
World rankExport valueShare of world exportsQuantity (tonnes)Average value per tonneYear
$38.4 million1.4%12,577 t$3,0552024

CEPII BACI international trade database (HS22, V202601), HS 5101 (Wool, not carded or combed).

China as a buyer of wool

China imported $2 billion of greasy and scoured wool (HS 5101) in 2024, 71% of world imports, ranked #1. Of its $2 billion of wool imports in 2024, 75% came from Australia and 10% from South Africa, among 39 suppliers. Largest sources: Australia (75%), South Africa (9.6%), New Zealand (5.9%), Uruguay (3%), Lesotho (1.2%).

Import dependency · Supplier shifts

The wool price China sells into

The benchmark price, Wool, fine 19 micron, Australian Wool Exchange spot, was 1,595¢/kg in August 2026, up 60% over twelve months. A single country's export price can differ from the benchmark: see trade price against benchmark. Monthly averages lag the market and are not investment advice. Wool price history.

Cite as: Commodity Origins, "China wool: production, exports and prices", https://commodityorigins.com/countries/CHN/wool/ (CC BY 4.0). Rankings count only countries reporting to the sources named; this page is shown only for top-five producers or exporters with at least 3% of the world total. Report an issue with this page.