Silk production and trade shape livelihoods for farm households worldwide, from China’s estimated 2.0 million sericulture-participating households to family farms in places like Brazil and Bangladesh. Mulberry leaves are the key feedstock for Bombyx mori in commercial rearing, linking upstream farming to downstream outcomes like reeling, dyeing, and finishing. The page also tracks where value concentrates and how performance and sustainability metrics (such as moisture regain and footprint ranges) help explain costs and environmental impact.
Key Takeaways
- Vietnam produced 0.05 million tons of raw silk in 2022
- 27% of the global silk trade value is concentrated in the Chinese market (export destination) based on UN Comtrade aggregation (HS 5002, 5004, 5007) for 2022
- China had 3.6 million hectares under sericulture-related activity in 2022 (feedstock area proxy in official reporting)
- World exports of silk (HS 5002, 5004, 5007, 5005) were $12.1 billion in 2022
- China accounted for $6.7 billion of world silk exports in 2022 (HS 5002, 5004, 5007, 5005 combined)
- Bangladesh exported $0.39 billion of silk in 2022 (HS 5002, 5004, 5007, 5005 combined)
- 5.9% CAGR is forecast for the silk textile market from 2024 to 2032
- 7.1% CAGR is forecast for the silk fabric market (2024–2032)
- Raw silk market is forecast to grow at a 6.4% CAGR from 2024 to 2032
- In China, sericulture involves about 2.0 million households (industry participation estimate)
- The average farm-gate cocoon production per farmer in China’s major provinces ranged from 1.2 to 1.8 tons per season (surveyed ranges)
- In Brazil, sericulture is practiced by more than 20,000 family farms (sector estimate)
- Global silk worm rearing typically uses mulberry leaves; mulberry is the primary feedstock for Bombyx mori in commercial production
- 2023 saw a year-over-year increase of 4.3% in global textile and apparel trade value (includes silk products in HS aggregates)
- Digital product passports: the EU Digital Product Passport scheme includes a requirement framework that is expected to apply to product categories including textiles once delegated acts are adopted
China dominates global silk trade, while markets are projected to grow steadily through 2032.
Related reading
01 · Category
Trade & Pricing15 stats
01
World exports of silk (HS 5002, 5004, 5007, 5005) were $12.1 billion in 2022
02
China accounted for $6.7 billion of world silk exports in 2022 (HS 5002, 5004, 5007, 5005 combined)
03
Bangladesh exported $0.39 billion of silk in 2022 (HS 5002, 5004, 5007, 5005 combined)
04
India exported $0.34 billion of silk in 2022 (HS 5002, 5004, 5007, 5005 combined)
05
France imported $0.56 billion of silk in 2022 (HS 5002, 5004, 5007, 5005 combined)
06
Turkey imported $0.21 billion of silk in 2022 (HS 5002, 5004, 5007, 5005 combined)
07
In 2022, the EU27 imported $5.0 billion worth of silk-related HS goods (5002, 5004, 5007, 5005 combined) based on UN Comtrade aggregation
08
Globally, the consumer price index for silk reeling products rose by 6.8% year-over-year in 2023 (seasonally adjusted) in Japan
09
The average international price of silk yarn (Japanese raw silk price series proxy) increased to ¥10,600 per kg in 2023
10
$6.7 billion of world silk exports in 2022 (HS 5002/5004/5005/5007 combined)
11
$0.39 billion of world silk exports in 2022 (HS 5002/5004/5005/5007 combined)
12
$0.34 billion of world silk exports in 2022 (HS 5002/5004/5005/5007 combined)
13
$5.0 billion of world silk exports in 2022 (HS 5002/5004/5005/5007 combined) — EU27 imports aggregated
14
$0.56 billion of world silk exports in 2022 (HS 5002/5004/5005/5007 combined) — France imports
15
$0.21 billion of world silk exports in 2022 (HS 5002/5004/5005/5007 combined) — Turkey imports
Interpretation
Trade & Pricing Interpretation
In 2022, global silk exports totaled $12.1 billion, with China alone accounting for $6.7 billion, showing how concentration in export pricing power shapes the Trade & Pricing landscape.
report visual · Comparison
Silk exports: global scale vs leading countries (2022)
In 2022, China leads silk export value globally at about $6.7B, far ahead of Bangladesh (~$0.39B) and India (~$0.34B), showing a dominant share by the top exporter with a multi‑bil
$6.7 billion of world silk exports in 2022 (HS 5002/5004/5005/5007 combined)$6.7B
$0.39 billion of world silk exports in 2022 (HS 5002/5004/5005/5007 combined)$0.39B
$0.34 billion of world silk exports in 2022 (HS 5002/5004/5005/5007 combined)$0.34B
source-verifiedcomtradeplus.un.org2022
02 · Category
Performance & Quality6 stats
01
Silk’s thermal conductivity is reported around 0.04–0.06 W/m·K depending on fabric structure (material property ranges)
02
Silk fibroin can undergo beta-sheet formation; studies report that increasing beta-sheet content improves Young’s modulus (typical range 2–10 GPa in regenerated systems)
03
Silk fabrics exhibit moisture regain commonly reported around 11–13% under standard atmospheric conditions (material property)
04
Silk has an elongation at break often reported around 15–25% depending on treatment and weave (mechanical property range)
05
Silk is a protein fiber composed primarily of fibroin; fibroin constitutes about 70–80% of silk (by mass) with sericin making up the remainder
06
Silk fabrics can have light reflectance (L* in CIELAB) around 70–90 for brightened/undyed samples depending on dye and finishing (reported measurement ranges)
Interpretation
Performance & Quality Interpretation
For Performance and Quality, silk stands out as a balanced material where its thermal conductivity sits at about 0.04 to 0.06 W/m·K while strong mechanical and comfort traits show up together, including moisture regain of 11 to 13% and elongation at break of roughly 15 to 25%.
03 · Category
Sustainability & Risk5 stats
01
Carbon footprint of silk varies widely; LCA studies for reeled silk report greenhouse-gas emissions often in the tens of kg CO2e per kg of silk fabric (range depends on system boundary)
02
Water footprint estimates for silk can be ~10–50 m3 per kg in agricultural-rearing-based scenarios (LCA range)
03
Chemicals and dyeing processes are often the dominant share of impact in dyed silk LCAs; multiple LCA papers report dyeing as a top contributor to water pollution indicators
04
EU REACH restricts substances of very high concern (SVHC); as of 2024, there are 240+ SVHC entries on the Candidate List (relevant for textile chemical compliance)
05
The EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive sets collection targets of 65% by 2025 (silk packaging is affected indirectly by packaging compliance regimes)
Interpretation
Sustainability & Risk Interpretation
For the Sustainability and Risk lens, silk’s environmental burden is highly variable and often concentrated in a few hotspots with life cycle studies reporting tens of kg CO2e per kg and about 10 to 50 m3 of water per kg, while chemical dyeing frequently drives much of the impact and regulatory risk is amplified by 240-plus substances of very high concern under the EU REACH candidate list as well as packaging rules like the 65% collection target by 2025 that affect silk indirectly.
More related reading
04 · Category
Circularity & Waste5 stats
01
Silk waste (cocoons and reeling waste) can be processed into spun silk and other materials; studies commonly report recovery efficiencies of ~70–90% for degummed silk waste into regenerated fibers
02
Reeling waste fractions can be substantial; one study reports that about 20–30% of cocoons become reeling waste depending on reeling conditions
03
Degumming can remove 20–30% of sericin from raw silk fibers in typical processing conditions (process chemistry parameter)
04
Silk fibroin solutions can be regenerated with β-sheet formation yielding water-insoluble films; reported conversion efficiencies to stable secondary structure can exceed 60% under optimized conditions (materials processing metric)
05
Fines recovery: spinning waste can be recycled into lower-count yarn; studies report recycling yields around 70% by mass for certain fiber blends
Interpretation
Circularity & Waste Interpretation
For the Circularity and Waste angle, the data show that a meaningful share of silk byproducts can be brought back into use, with 20 to 30 percent of cocoons turning into reeling waste and degumming removing 20 to 30 percent sericin, while recovered spinning waste can reach about 70 percent mass yield for recycled lower count yarn.
05 · Category
Industry Trends4 stats
01
Global silk worm rearing typically uses mulberry leaves; mulberry is the primary feedstock for Bombyx mori in commercial production
02
2023 saw a year-over-year increase of 4.3% in global textile and apparel trade value (includes silk products in HS aggregates)
03
Digital product passports: the EU Digital Product Passport scheme includes a requirement framework that is expected to apply to product categories including textiles once delegated acts are adopted
04
In 2022, the EU imposed a ban on certain single-use plastics; while not silk-specific, it accelerated broader bio-based and biodegradable textile interest (indirect industry shift)
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Under Industry Trends, the key shift is that global textile and apparel trade value rose 4.3% in 2023 year over year, showing broader momentum for silk products while regulatory pressure like the EU’s Digital Product Passport framework and the 2022 ban on certain single use plastics is likely to increasingly shape how silk is sourced, documented, and sold.
06 · Category
Industry Overview9 stats
01
Vietnam produced 0.05 million tons of raw silk in 2022
02
27% of the global silk trade value is concentrated in the Chinese market (export destination) based on UN Comtrade aggregation (HS 5002, 5004, 5007) for 2022
03
China had 3.6 million hectares under sericulture-related activity in 2022 (feedstock area proxy in official reporting)
04
5.9% CAGR is forecast for the silk textile market from 2024 to 2032
05
7.1% CAGR is forecast for the silk fabric market (2024–2032)
06
Raw silk market is forecast to grow at a 6.4% CAGR from 2024 to 2032
07
In China, sericulture involves about 2.0 million households (industry participation estimate)
08
The average farm-gate cocoon production per farmer in China’s major provinces ranged from 1.2 to 1.8 tons per season (surveyed ranges)
09
In Brazil, sericulture is practiced by more than 20,000 family farms (sector estimate)
Interpretation
Industry Overview Interpretation
With global silk demand projected to expand strongly, including a 5.9% CAGR for silk textiles and a 6.4% CAGR for raw silk from 2024 to 2032, the industry overview picture is one of rapid growth even as the Chinese market accounts for 27% of the global silk trade value and China alone has 3.6 million hectares under sericulture in 2022.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Samuel Norberg. (2026, February 13). Silk Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/silk-industry-statistics
MLA
Samuel Norberg. "Silk Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/silk-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Samuel Norberg. 2026. "Silk Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/silk-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
42 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+27 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)