Raw silk market in South America

Earlier Report Observations

The raw silk market in South America began the period at 743 tons in 2018, supported by Brazil's export-oriented production concentrated in Paraná state, known for its high-quality filament. However, drought conditions that year limited the expansion of mulberry planting, constraining future supply growth. By 2019, market volume had fallen to 530 tons, even as export revenues increased, highlighting the sector's reliance on international luxury demand. The sharp decline to 425 tons in 2020 was directly triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely reduced tourism and event-related consumption of silk products.

A partial recovery to 442 tons occurred in 2021, facilitated by government and industry efforts to support sericulture farmers and a gradual easing of pandemic restrictions. However, the market shrank again to 400 tons in 2022 amid ongoing challenges, while the Seda Brasil project advanced research into new bioproducts like wound-healing films, aiming to diversify silk's applications beyond textiles. By 2023, volume had dipped further to 385 tons as production area and cocoon output continued their multi-year decline, prompting knowledge-exchange visits to India and state-level contests to stimulate quality and efficiency among remaining producers.

Production raw silk in South America

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of raw silk, 2017-2020

World map of production of raw silk, 2017-2020

South America's raw silk production has declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 377.0 tonnes of raw silk, representing a 19.6% year-over-year decrease. From 2017 to 2020, production fell by 37.2%, which translates to an annualized decline rate of 14.3%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 650.0 tonnes. The most significant drop occurred in 2019 with a 27.8% decrease, while the largest increase was in 2018 at 8.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in South America in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports raw silk from South America

Based on available market data, there were no exports of raw silk from South America between 2017 and 2020.

Imports raw silk to South America

Imports in kind, kg

South America's imports of raw silk have decreased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the region imported {value_last_year} kg of raw silk, down 21.7% compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports declined by 47.1%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -19.1%. The peak import volume was in 2018 at 93 163 kg. The sharpest decline happened in 2019 with a 34.1% drop, while the largest increase was recorded in 2018 at 2.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to South America in kind, 2017-2020, kg

From 2017 to 2020, the import structure in volume terms was overwhelmingly dominated by a single market: China, which accounted for 98.4% of total imports.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to South America in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

South America's raw silk imports in value terms have fallen for the second year running. In 2020, imports totaled 2 153 thousand US dollars, a 29.8% decrease year-over-year. Between 2017 and 2020, import value dropped by 48.5%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 19.8%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 5 238 thousand US dollars. The most substantial decline occurred in 2019 with a 41.4% reduction, while the largest increase was in 2018 at 25.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to South America in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Throughout the 2017-2020 period, China was the dominant and nearly exclusive source for raw silk imports to South America in value terms, holding a 98.0% share.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to South America in value, 2017-2020