Wool is a freely traded international commodity, subject to global supply and demand and representing only 3% world fibre production. While the BWMB only handles fleece wool, production figures also include skin wool from sheep handled through the abattoirs.
| World Sheep Populations 2004 | 000's |
|
|
|
| China | 157,330 |
| Australia | 99,252 |
| India | 57,900 |
| Iran | 53,000 |
| (Former) Soviet Union | 52,028 |
| Sudan | 42,800 |
| New Zealand | 40,049 |
| South Africa | 28,700 |
| Turkey | 26,500 |
| UK | 25,000 |
| World Total (inc. other countries) | 1,010,930 |
| World Production of Raw Wool (Fleece and Skin Wool, Greasy Wool Equivalent) | |
|
|
|
| 2004 | Tonnes |
| Australia | 523,000 |
| China | 341,000 |
| New Zealand | 217,708 |
| (Former) Soviet Union | 136,560 |
| Argentina | 75,000 |
| Turkey | 54,000 |
| Iran | 53,900 |
| UK | 48,970 |
| India | 47,600 |
| South Africa | 45,120 |
| World Total (inc. other countries) | 2,108,128 |
| Export of Greasy and Scoured British Wool (Greasy Wool Equivalent) 2003 including Skin Wool Kg | |
|
|
|
| Belgium/Luxembourg | 15,630,000 |
| Other Countries (40) | 7,924,000 |
| Denmark | 6,560,000 |
| Germany | 4,481,000 |
| Italy | 3,985,000 |
| France | 2,212,000 |
| USA | 2,007,000 |
| China | 1,630,000 |
| Czech Republic | 1,537,000 |
| South Africa | 1,389,000 |
| India | 689,000 |
| World Total (inc. other countries) | 48,044,000 |
British Wool Marketing Board