Major Commodities - Wool

Australia's woolgrowers have firmly established the nation as a high-quality and reliable source of natural fibre, successfully supplying wool markets at all corners of the globe from the world of high-fashion in Europe to the bourgeoning Chinese market.

While Australian agricultural production has diversified since the days of 'riding the sheep's back', Australian wool producers have maintained their position as a dominant producer and exporter of wool.

Australian wool: fast facts

• The total wool produced in Australia is 368,330 tonnes (greasy). NSW is the highest producer of wool, with 112,720 tonnes, followed by VIC with 103,910 tonnes and WA with 79,070 tonnes.

ABARES, Australian Commodity Statistic, 2011.

• The gross value of Australian wool (includes value of dead wool and wool on skins) is $1.9 billion.

Australian Bureau of Statistics, Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, 2009-2010, Catalogue No. 7503.0

• Wool production for 2011-12 is forecast to increase by 3 percent, to 355 million kilograms (greasy) from the estimated 2010-11 production period.

Australian Wool Innovation Limited, Australian Wool Production Forecast Report, August 2011

• In 2010-11, the value of Australian wool exports was $3.047 billion. The major markets for Australian wool (by value) are China ($2.235 billion), India ($209 million) and Italy ($178 million).

ABARES, Australian Commodity Statistics, 2011.

For more, view NFF Farm Facts 2012.