Sheep production and particularly wool production are one of the most important productive activities in the country since the last century.

The wool industry in Uruguay is mainly oriented to export markets. Eighty percent of the wool produced is exported as wool-tops.  A remaining 10%  is processed by the local manufacturing textile industry to produce fabrics and garments both for exporting and home consumption.

Wool and wool products have constituted form many years the main source of export revenue in the country.  Between 1990 and 2000 wool exports averaged U$S 324 million per year, which represents 20% of total export income in the country.

Uruguay is the third wool producing-exporter country in the world, but the second as producer of apparel wool. Also, Uruguay is the first exporting country of wool tops in the specific range of medium apparel wools (25-30 microns)

 The importance of the wool industry led to Uruguayan woolgrowers in 1968 to create a private organization, the Uruguayan Wool Secretariat (SUL), with the objectives of supporting and promoting the production, processing and consumption of wool.

 In order to accomplish these objectives, SUL with a technical staff of 30 people, carries out a wide range of activities which include: applied research in sheep production aspects, technology transfer of new techniques, sheep breeding programs, shearer's training courses, wool market analysis and information, the promotion of Uruguayan wools and cooperation with the government, manufacturers and wool trade.

It also operates its own Experimental Station and a wool laboratory that has the recognition of Interwoollabs, servicing woolgrowers, exporters, top-makers, research programs, and the Uruguayan Woolmark licensees (20).

 SUL, as a grower's organization will continue supporting research and development programs aimed at improving the intrinsic properties and the processing performance of our wools and also the general productivity of our sheep flocks.

Special emphasis is being placed in the adoption by farmers of production technology in order to improve the quantity and quality of wool produced, in the development of more strict wool harvesting and handling procedures in order to eliminate contamination and improve the quality of Uruguayan tops. These programs are carried out in conjunction with local processors and exporters in a integrated form.

Since the beginning of SUL in 1968, Uruguay has been the only American wool producing country, member of the International Wool Secretariat (IWS) whose objectives have been the research, innovation and promotion of wool in the world.  After the transformation of IWS into The Woolmark Company and the withdrawals of New Zealand and South Africa, Uruguay has decided to remain as an Affiliate member of the new Company, supporting their activities as we have done in the past, and maintaining the control and administration of the Woolmark in Uruguay.