Carded wool trade by country: top importers, exporters and prices
World trade in carded wool was worth $1.29 billion in 2024, about 107.8 thousand tonnes. That is a fall of 32% since 2017, and down 17% on 2023.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
World trade by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1.29B | 107.8K t |
| 2023 | $1.54B | 118.0K t |
| 2022 | $1.81B | 137.0K t |
| 2021 | $1.60B | 140.4K t |
| 2020 | $1.26B | 110.1K t |
| 2019 | $1.91B | 131.7K t |
| 2018 | $2.23B | 164.2K t |
| 2017 | $1.88B | 164.5K t |
Top carded wool exporting countries
Exports are led by China (38%), the Czech Republic (10%) and Peru (8%). 100 countries reported exports, and the top three account for 56%.
| Exporter | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| China | $490.7M | 38% |
| Czech Republic | $130.7M | 10% |
| Peru | $104.6M | 8.1% |
| Germany | $102.8M | 8% |
| Italy | $98.9M | 7.7% |
| Argentina | $78.5M | 6.1% |
| South Africa | $64.2M | 5% |
| Uruguay | $61.6M | 4.8% |
| Egypt | $35.2M | 2.7% |
| Bulgaria | $30.3M | 2.4% |
| United Kingdom | $17.8M | 1.4% |
| Taiwan | $10.2M | 0.8% |
Top importing countries and buyer markets
Italy is the biggest buyer with 23% of world imports, ahead of Germany and China. Demand is spread widely: the top three take 41% across 132 importing countries.
| Importer | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | $298.7M | 23% |
| Germany | $114.6M | 8.9% |
| China | $112.5M | 8.7% |
| Romania | $76.8M | 6% |
| Czech Republic | $76.7M | 6% |
| Poland | $74.8M | 5.8% |
| Vietnam | $67.5M | 5.2% |
| Turkey | $60.4M | 4.7% |
| South Korea | $59.5M | 4.6% |
| Bulgaria | $52.2M | 4.1% |
| Japan | $51.7M | 4% |
| United Kingdom | $21.5M | 1.7% |
Average price per kg
The world average declared value was about $11.94 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, South Africa averaged $27.36 per kg and Uruguay $7.06 per kg, so grade and origin matter.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments worldwide. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Who is behind these numbers in this market?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 5105: Wool and fine or coarse animal hair; carded or combed (including combed wool in fragments). HS 5105 codes.
Common questions
Which countries export the most carded wool?
China exported $490.7 million in 2024, 38% of the world total, followed by the Czech Republic (10%) and Peru (8%). In all, 100 countries reported exports of this product. The full ranking and map are on this page.
Which countries import the most carded wool?
Italy imported $298.7 million in 2024, 23% of world imports, ahead of Germany (9%) and China (9%). The top three importers together take 41%. Each country with its own page is linked from the table.
How big is the world trade in carded wool?
It was worth $1.29 billion in 2024, about 107.8 thousand tonnes. That is a fall of 32% since 2017. The peak year was 2018 at $2.23 billion. 100 countries reported exports and 132 reported imports.
What is the average price of carded wool per kg?
The world average declared value was about $11.94 per kg in 2024. Among the main exporters, South Africa averaged $27.36 per kg and Uruguay $7.06 per kg, so grade and origin matter. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so treat it as a benchmark, not a quote.
What is the HS code for carded wool?
The HS code for carded wool is heading 5105, in chapter 51 (wool, fine or coarse animal hair; horsehair yarn and woven fabric). Customs uses this code worldwide at the six-digit level; national tariffs add more digits. The full list of codes is on the HS 5105 page.
How can I find carded wool buyers and suppliers?
Public statistics stop at country totals. EximDataX shows the importers and exporters behind this trade from shipment-level customs records, updated weekly, with direct customs feeds and mirror data. Tell us your product and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
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