SADC: Wool Market 2025

Wool Market Size in SADC

The SADC wool market dropped slightly to $X in 2022, with a decrease of -4.1% against the previous year. Over the period under review, consumption continues to indicate a deep slump. The level of consumption peaked at $X in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, consumption failed to regain momentum.

Wool Production in SADC

In value terms, wool production reduced to $X in 2022 estimated in export price. Overall, production saw a drastic downturn. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 with an increase of 58% against the previous year. Over the period under review, production attained the peak level at $X in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2022, production stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Wool Exports

Exports in SADC

For the third consecutive year, SADC recorded decline in shipments abroad of wool, which decreased by -34.7% to X tons in 2022. Over the period under review, exports faced a sharp setback. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2013 when exports increased by 107% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the exports reached the peak figure at X tons in 2015; however, from 2016 to 2022, the exports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, wool exports shrank rapidly to $X in 2022. In general, exports saw a sharp reduction. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2015 with an increase of 28% against the previous year. As a result, the exports attained the peak of $X. From 2016 to 2022, the growth of the exports remained at a somewhat lower figure.

Exports by Country

South Africa was the main exporter of wool in SADC, with the volume of exports accounting for X tons, which was approx. 58% of total exports in 2022. Lesotho (X tons) held the second position in the ranking, distantly followed by Namibia (X tons). All these countries together held near 42% share of total exports.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of shipments, amongst the main exporting countries, was attained by Namibia (with a CAGR of +2.5%), while the other leaders experienced a decline in the exports figures.

In value terms, the largest wool supplying countries in SADC were Lesotho ($X), South Africa ($X) and Namibia ($X), with a combined 99.9% share of total exports.

Lesotho, with a CAGR of +14.0%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of exports, in terms of the main exporting countries over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the exports figures.

Export Prices by Country

The export price in SADC stood at $X per ton in 2022, which is down by -6.7% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the export price recorded a slight shrinkage. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 an increase of 45%. As a result, the export price reached the peak level of $X per ton. From 2019 to 2022, the export prices remained at a somewhat lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably by country of origin: amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Lesotho ($X per ton), while Namibia ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Lesotho (+18.1%), while the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the export price figures.

Wool Imports

Imports in SADC

In 2022, after four years of decline, there was significant growth in purchases abroad of wool, when their volume increased by 13% to X tons. In general, imports, however, faced a precipitous decline. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2015 with an increase of 46%. As a result, imports reached the peak of X tons. From 2016 to 2022, the growth of imports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, wool imports amounted to $X in 2022. Overall, imports, however, saw a deep slump. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2021 with an increase of 70% against the previous year. Over the period under review, imports attained the peak figure at $X in 2015; however, from 2016 to 2022, imports failed to regain momentum.

Imports by Country

In 2022, South Africa (X tons) represented the largest importer of wool, creating 63% of total imports. It was distantly followed by Mauritius (X tons), Lesotho (X tons) and Botswana (X tons), together committing a 32% share of total imports. Malawi (X tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

Imports into South Africa decreased at an average annual rate of -22.2% from 2012 to 2022. At the same time, Botswana (+34.7%), Lesotho (+5.4%) and Malawi (+1.8%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Botswana emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in SADC, with a CAGR of +34.7% from 2012-2022. By contrast, Mauritius (-22.3%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. While the share of Lesotho (+9.3 p.p.), Botswana (+4.6 p.p.) and Malawi (+2 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the total imports from 2012-2022, the share of Mauritius (-4 p.p.) and South Africa (-14.5 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics.

In value terms, South Africa ($X), Mauritius ($X) and Botswana ($X) appeared to be the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2022, together comprising 94% of total imports.

Botswana, with a CAGR of +34.9%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, in terms of the main importing countries over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the imports figures.

Import Prices by Country

In 2022, the import price in SADC amounted to $X per ton, falling by -8.6% against the previous year. Import price indicated buoyant growth from 2012 to 2022: its price increased at an average annual rate of +7.0% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, wool import price increased by +117.6% against 2020 indices. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2021 when the import price increased by 138% against the previous year. As a result, import price reached the peak level of $X per ton, and then fell in the following year.

Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was Mauritius ($X per ton), while Lesotho ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by South Africa (+11.9%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform