Uruguay, a strategic partner for luxury fashion and sustainable design

Uruguay is a benchmark of exceptional quality in the wool industry, combining a deep heritage in handling this fiber with a firm commitment to innovation and cutting-edge technology. Thanks to its production methods and dedication to animal welfare and environmental care, the country has produced superior-quality wool and established itself as an indispensable partner for advancing fashion and sustainable design.

For example, Uruguay’s fine wools are sought after by the luxury fashion industry in Italy. In contrast, Germany’s automotive sector uses coarser wool for high-end car upholstery and business-class airplane seats.

Driven by a rich heritage of fertile land with optimal climatic and environmental conditions, Uruguay has excellent natural characteristics for sheep breeding and reproduction. There, flocks graze freely and in the open throughout the year.

Thus, the country managed to generate an export product internationally valued for its origin and production method, which meticulously considers genetics, breeding, shearing, and conditioning, and which, together with its innovative technology and Uruguay’s renewable electricity matrix, make it a sustainable producer of quality wool.

With a long wool tradition, Uruguay is the world’s fourth-largest exporter of wool tops. Annually, it exports some 25,000 tons of this product to more than 40 countries, with Europe as the leading destination, accounting for 50% of purchases. In addition, the country is the world’s third-largest exporter of wool in its natural state (measured in value) and the first in Latin America; it is also the world's sixth-largest exporter of wool tops measured in dollars.

Read the Wool Business Case prepared by Uruguay XXI and learn how Uruguay combines nature, technology, and social inclusion to export products that represent its commitment to excellence and sustainability.