Uruguay wool exports jump 55% in Q1 2026 as China leads demand

Uruguay’s wool industry posted strong export growth in early 2026, with shipments of wool and textiles rising sharply in March and China remaining the sector’s main market, according to the latest report from Uruguay XXI, the state agency that promotes exports and investment.

Exports of wool and textiles totaled $22 million in March, up 65% from March 2025, Uruguay XXI said.

China accounted for the largest share of demand, with imports worth $14 million during the month, keeping it as the top destination for Uruguay’s wool production, the agency said.

The chart below provides an overview of Uruguay’s seaborne exports of raw wool, not carded or combed. The data was obtained by Datamar and made available through the DataLiner platform.

Uruguay Wool Exports | Jan 2023 – Feb 2026 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

In the first quarter of 2026, wool and textile exports reached $59 million, a 55% increase from the same period a year earlier. Over that period, China bought $37 million worth of Uruguayan wool products, according to Uruguay XXI.

The first-quarter performance follows 2025, when the sector’s exports totaled $167 million, an 18% rise from 2024, the agency said.

Source: Fashion Network with information from Uruguay XXI

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