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Wool Scouring in New Zealand - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Andrew Ledovskikh Andrew Ledovskikh Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: August 2024 ANZSIC C1311NZ

Revenue

$247.1m

2024-25

$247.1m

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xm

Employees

201

Businesses

21

Wages

$XX.Xm

Wool Scouring in New Zealand industry analysis

Wool scourers are facing challenging conditions. Falling wool production and prices are limiting the amount of wool available for scouring and the price it's sold at, significantly reducing revenue. The pandemic reduced demand for New Zealand wool in key export markets, like China and Italy, because of manufacturing disruptions, while general economic uncertainty and trade disruptions exacerbated already poor conditions. Even so, wool scourers have benefited from increased demand for wool grease, a byproduct of the scouring process, as it has been used in the production of vaccines, which has helped boost margins. High shipping prices over the period have also increased incentives for wool scouring to reduce the weight of exported wool and limit freight costs. Revenue has shrunk at an annualised 7.4% over the past five years, including a 1.8% drop in 2024-25, to total $247.1 million as export markets continue to struggle.

Trends and Insights

  • Wool prices and wool production have declined, harming wool scourers. This has contributed to falling revenue, but margins have been supported by wool grease sales.
  • Wholesalers selling to export markets represent the most important market. However, difficult trading conditions are increasing the importance of local markets.
  • Wool scourers are typically concentrated around major ports. Regions like Canterbury, Wellington and Auckland act as wool scouring hubs for sheep farmers in surrounding regions, as wool scouring is generally performed just before shipping.
  • WoolWorks is the only commission-based wool scourer in New Zealand. That’s why the company dominates the market, which limits competition.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 7.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $247.1m in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Domestic wool prices and production haven't been favourable for wool scourers

  • Higher wool prices mean wool scourers can generate more revenue for the same amount of wool scoured. When more wool is produced, wool scourers have more wool to process, also boosting revenue.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Wool Scouring in New Zealand
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

The price of wool is set to rise

  • Wool prices are poised to rise over the coming years, improving the ability of wool scourers to lift prices. This will support revenue growth and provide a reprieve for wool scourers following the difficult conditions of recent years.

Biggest companies in the Wool Scouring in New Zealand

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
NZ Wool Scouring
200.1

To view the market share and analysis for all 1 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Wool Scouring in New Zealand
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Strong wool, Fine crossbred wool and Medium wool. Strong wool is the largest segment of the Wool Scouring in New Zealand.

Trends and Insights

Consumer tastes for high-quality wool are benefiting fine wool products

  • Fine wool is wool that is under 24.5 microns in diameter. Examples of other wool-based products include lanolin and wool tops.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Operators primarily scour wool, which includes carbonising, carding and combing wool. Wool wax and grease production are also included in the industry.

What's included in this industry?

Strong woolFine crossbred woolMedium woolFine wool and other wool-based products

Companies

NZ Wool Scouring

Purchase this report to view all 1 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

GREASY WOOLLANOLINWOOL TOPS

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 1311 - Wool Scouring in New Zealand

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Wool prices and wool production have declined, harming wool scourers. This has contributed to falling revenue, but margins have been supported by wool grease sales.

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Wholesalers selling to export markets represent the most important market. However, difficult trading conditions are increasing the importance of local markets.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Wool scourers are typically concentrated around major ports. Regions like Canterbury, Wellington and Auckland act as wool scouring hubs for sheep farmers in surrounding regio...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

WoolWorks is the only commission-based wool scourer in New Zealand. That’s why the company dominates the market, which limits competition.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

WoolWorks dominates the wool scouring market. The company accounts for most wool scouring activity in New Zealand, as it is the only commission-based wool scourer.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of NZ Wool Scouring's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for NZ Wool Scouring, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Falling wool prices in recent times have harmed wool scourers. Lower wool prices reduce prices for wool scourers, limiting revenue.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

New revenue streams from soaring demand for wool grease have supported wool scourers' margins. New Zealand wool grease is being used to produce vaccines.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Wool Scouring industry in New Zealand in 2024?

The market size of the Wool Scouring industry in New Zealand is $247.1m in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Wool Scouring in New Zealand industry in 2024?

There are 21 businesses in the Wool Scouring industry in New Zealand, which has grown at a CAGR of 7.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Wool Scouring industry in New Zealand grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Wool Scouring industry in New Zealand has been declining at a CAGR of 7.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Wool Scouring industry in New Zealand over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Wool Scouring industry in New Zealand is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Wool Scouring market in New Zealand?

The biggest company operating in the Wool Scouring market in New Zealand is NZ Wool Scouring

What does the Wool Scouring in New Zealand include?

Strong wool and Fine crossbred wool are part of the Wool Scouring industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Wool Scouring in New Zealand?

The company holding the most market share in New Zealand is NZ Wool Scouring.

How competitive is the Wool Scouring industry in New Zealand?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Wool Scouring industry in New Zealand.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Complementors

  • Sheep Farming in New Zealand
  • Shearing, Cropping and Agricultural Support Services in New Zealand
  • Wool Wholesaling in New Zealand
  • Industrial Machinery and Gaming Manufacturing in New Zealand

International industries

  • Synthetic and Natural Textile Manufacturing in Australia

View all industries in New Zealand

Methodology

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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in New Zealand include:

  • Statistics New Zealand
  • New Zealand Company Register
  • Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

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