Market research

Raw silk market in Japan

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

Japan's raw silk market volume stood at 323 tons in 2018 but was already on a long-term downward trajectory, driven by changing lifestyles that reduced domestic silk demand and a growing reliance on imported products. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 sharply accelerated this decline, as mobility restrictions and reduced textile consumption cut the market to 163 tons.

A post-pandemic recovery began in 2021, with market volume rising to 195 tons and reaching 229 tons by 2022, supported by the easing of COVID-19 measures. However, the underlying contraction resumed in 2023, pulling volume down to 188 tons, as import penetration remained above 98% and consumer preference for silk stayed weak.

Import volumes, which dominate market supply, continued to fall through 2024 and 2025, indicating that the broader decline in Japan's raw silk consumption persisted beyond the reported market size data.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2025
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2025
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Japan
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Japan in kind, 2018-2023, kg
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Japan in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, kg
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, kg
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Japan in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Japan by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Japan in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Japan by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Japan, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Japan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Japan in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Japan by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Japan in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Japan by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Japan, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Japan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Japan in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Japan by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Japan in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Japan by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Japan, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Japan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Japan in kind, 2018-2025, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Japan by countries, 2018-2025, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2025
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Japan in value, 2018-2025, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Japan by countries, 2018-2025, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2025
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Japan, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Japan by countries, 2018-2025, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2025
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production raw silk in Japan

In kind, 2018-2021, kg

Japan was among the world's leading producers of raw silk from 2018 to 2021, ranking 13th globally by production volume during this period.

Top producers of raw silk, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of raw silk, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

In 2021, Japan produced 10 000 kg of raw silk, marking a 37.5% decrease from the previous year. Over the 2018-2021 period, production fell by 50%, with a compound annual growth rate of -20.6%. The largest increase occurred in 2020, at 0.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Japan in kind, 2018-2021, kg

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(20.0%)	-	(37.5%)	(20.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports raw silk from Japan

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited significant volatility during these years. Exports reached their lowest point in 2021 and peaked in 2019, showing a 38-fold swing between these extremes. In 2021, raw silk exports from Japan totaled 0.0 tonnes, representing a 367.3% increase year-over-year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Japan in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	367.3%	n/a	n/a	(50.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, the United States was the dominant market for Japan's raw silk exports in volume terms, accounting for 71.1% of total flows, while other countries made up the remainder.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Japan in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

The data shows irregular changes, reflecting a volatile market environment. Exports declined from a peak in 2019 to a trough in 2018, changing by 4.5 times. In 2021, Japan exported raw silk worth 5 000 US dollars, which is 350.5% higher than the previous year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Japan in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	350.5%	n/a	n/a	0.9%

Source: SHEV.io

During 2018-2021, the United States and China played leading roles in Japan's raw silk exports in value terms, together accounting for 93.6% of total flows, with the rest distributed among other countries.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Japan in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports raw silk to Japan

Imports in kind, t

After a two-year decline, Japan's raw silk imports increased. In 2021, imports reached 185.0 tonnes, up 25.6% from the previous year. Between 2018 and 2021, imports decreased by 39%, equating to an annualized rate of -15.2%. The minimum value was recorded in 2020 at 147.3 tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 49.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Japan in kind, 2018-2021, t

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(3.6%)	(49.6%)	25.6%	(15.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, China and Brazil were the dominant sources for Japan's raw silk imports in volume terms, jointly accounting for 99.3% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Japan in kind, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

After a two-year decline, Japan's raw silk imports increased. In 2021, Japan imported raw silk worth 8 838 000 US dollars, showing a sudden gain of 30.4% compared to 2020. Between 2018 and 2021, imports decreased by 47.1%, equating to an annualized rate of -19.1%. The minimum value was recorded in 2020 at 8 838 000 US dollars, which also experienced the largest decline of 50.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Japan in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(17.5%)	(50.8%)	30.4%	(19.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

Over 2018-2021, Japan's raw silk imports in value terms were heavily concentrated on China and Brazil, whose combined share reached 99.2% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Japan in value, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io