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 Australia is the world’s largest producer and exporter of wool with a long history in wool dating back to the early 19th century. Australia produces nearly a third of the world’s raw wool.
Advantages of woollen fibre
Wool is a natural, versatile fibre that is soft, lightweight and easy to care for. Woollen products have several advantages over synthetic fabrics – wool insulates against the cold, allows the skin to breathe, is fire-resistant, naturally elastic, durable and versatile.
Wool’s versatility can be seen in the diverse range of products made of wool, including clothing, blankets, carpets, mattresses, tennis ball coverings and wallpaper.
The Australian Woolmark™ brand is used to identify products made from Australian wool. It is used in more than 65 countries and appears on more than 300 million products a year. The logo has been ranked the seventh greatest corporate logo of all time (Source: The Financial Times, UK) and is recognised by 75 per cent of consumers worldwide.
Australian conditions produce quality wool
Australia’s temperate climate and vast areas of natural grassland provide ideal conditions for quality wool production. More than 80 per cent of Australian wool is from merino sheep and is of a consistently high quality.
Research, developing and applying technologies
Australia has expertise in researching and applying innovations in wool technology, for example, developing new processes for shrinkproofing, mothproofing and dyeing. Other woollen products developed by Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) and manufacturers include:
- ‘Intelligent wool’ – wearable electronics, where a microchip is inserted into the fabric that can tell when and how they are touched.
- Non-woven wool products that are lightweight, but have more stretch and better drape suitable for surfwear market, jacket lining and windproof jackets.
- Machine-washable woollen suits.
General information
Export markets
China is the largest market for Australian wool, followed by Western Europe. Italy is the major market in Europe, using superfine Australian wool for clothing. Other Asian markets include Taiwan, the Republic of Korea, India, Thailand and Japan.
Export dollars
In 2003-04, wool exports were valued at A$2519 million.
(Source: Stocktake, Australian Agriculture and Food Sector, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry)
For more information please visit:
www.affa.gov.au - Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
www.woolindustries.org - Australia Council of Wool Exporters
www.awex.com.au - Australian Wool Exchange
www.wool.com.au - Australian Wool Innovation Limited
www.woolmark.com - The Woolmark Company Pty Ltd
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