Commodity Origins

Where do natural fibres and rubber come from?

Fibres & other raw materials covers cotton, jute, natural rubber, silk, sisal, wool. What moves them together: Synthetic substitutes and oil prices, tree and crop disease, labor availability, tyre demand, fashion cycles.

Commodities in this category

Fibres & other raw materials commodities with top producers and latest prices
CommodityTop producersLatest price12 months
Cotton
The seed fibre of the cotton plant, ginned into lint and spun into yarn; the world's main natural textile fibre.
Cotton: world production by countryShare of world cotton production: China 23%, India 22%, Brazil 12%, Rest of world 43%.China: 23%India: 22%Brazil: 12%Rest of world: 43%Share of world cotton production: China 23%, India 22%, Brazil 12%, Rest of world 43%.
China 23%, India 22%, Brazil 12% (2023)		$2.11/kg
Cotlook A Index, CFR Far East		+22%
Jute
A bast fibre retted from stems in the Ganges delta and woven into sacking, twine and geotextiles.
Jute: world production by countryShare of world jute production: Bangladesh 56%, India 38%, Cambodia 4.1%, Rest of world 1.4%.Bangladesh: 56%India: 38%Cambodia: 4.1%Rest of world: 1.4%Share of world jute production: Bangladesh 56%, India 38%, Cambodia 4.1%, Rest of world 1.4%.
Bangladesh 56%, India 38%, Cambodia 4% (2024)		——
Natural rubber
Latex tapped from the Hevea tree, coagulated into sheets or block rubber; two-thirds of it goes into tyres.
Natural rubber: world production by countryShare of world natural rubber production: Thailand 32%, Indonesia 15%, Ivory Coast 11%, Rest of world 41%.Thailand: 32%Indonesia: 15%Ivory Coast: 11%Rest of world: 41%Share of world natural rubber production: Thailand 32%, Indonesia 15%, Ivory Coast 11%, Rest of world 41%.
Thailand 32%, Indonesia 15%, Ivory Coast 11% (2024)		$2.24/kg
TSR20, SGX/SICOM		+31%
Silk
Filament reeled from the cocoon of the mulberry silkworm, the only natural continuous-filament fibre.
Silk: world production by countryShare of world silk production: India 56%, China 32%, Uzbekistan 6.5%, Rest of world 5.8%.India: 56%China: 32%Uzbekistan: 6.5%Rest of world: 5.8%Share of world silk production: India 56%, China 32%, Uzbekistan 6.5%, Rest of world 5.8%.
India 56%, China 32%, Uzbekistan 6% (2024)		——
Sisal
A hard leaf fibre cut from agave plants, used for agricultural twine, rope and polishing cloth.
Sisal: world production by countryShare of world sisal production: Brazil 40%, Tanzania 26%, Kenya 9%, Rest of world 25%.Brazil: 40%Tanzania: 26%Kenya: 9%Rest of world: 25%Share of world sisal production: Brazil 40%, Tanzania 26%, Kenya 9%, Rest of world 25%.
Brazil 40%, Tanzania 26%, Kenya 9% (2024)		——
Wool
Fleece shorn from sheep, sold greasy by micron thickness and scoured before spinning.
Wool: world production by countryShare of world wool production: China 21%, Australia 17%, New Zealand 7.4%, Rest of world 55%.China: 21%Australia: 17%New Zealand: 7.4%Rest of world: 55%Share of world wool production: China 21%, Australia 17%, New Zealand 7.4%, Rest of world 55%.
China 21%, Australia 17%, New Zealand 7% (2024)		1,601¢/kg
Wool, fine 19 micron, Australian Wool Exchange spot		+63%

Price index since 1960

Fibres & other raw materials monthly prices, index 2010=100, Jan 1960 to Aug 2026Line chart of fibres & other raw materials monthly prices in index 2010=100 from Jan 1960 to Aug 2026: Other raw materials index from 29 to 97.9, peaking at 159.3.05010015019601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025index 2010=100
Other raw materials index

Source: World Bank Commodity Price Data (The Pink Sheet), monthly indices, 2010 = 100, published 2026-09-02. CC BY 4.0.

Indices are monthly averages and lag the market; informational only, not investment advice.

Data updated 6 September 2026.