Market research

Raw silk market in Southern Asia

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Southern Asia" region includes following countries:

Afghanistan

Bangladesh

Bhutan

Sri Lanka

India

Iran

Maldives

Nepal

Pakistan

Earlier Report Observations

The raw silk market in Southern Asia began a sustained expansion from 2018, with production rising by over 10% to 35 538 t in 2019. This initial growth was directly fueled by the launch of government support schemes, notably the Market Access Initiative (MAI) to promote exports and the comprehensive Silk Samagra program aimed at increasing output and quality through farmer assistance.

Market growth moderated in 2020, increasing only slightly to 36 138 t, as the COVID-19 pandemic caused global supply chain disruptions. The sector was stabilized by interventions like the Karnataka Silk Marketing Board's Pledging of Silk yarn scheme, which provided financial support to producers. However, the prolonged impact of the pandemic led to a 5.7% contraction in production to 34 090 t in 2021.

A strong recovery followed, with production jumping 8.3% in 2022 to 36 905 t and reaching 39 238 t in 2023. This rebound was driven by the full operation of 109 Automatic Reeling Machines, which significantly boosted the capacity for high-grade silk, and regulatory easing such as the removal of Quality Control Orders on textile inputs, which reduced production costs for manufacturers.

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, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Southern Asia
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Southern Asia in kind, 2018-2023, t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  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, t
  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. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Afghanistan in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Afghanistan in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Afghanistan, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Afghanistan in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Afghanistan in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Afghanistan, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Afghanistan in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Afghanistan in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Afghanistan, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Afghanistan in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Afghanistan in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Afghanistan, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Afghanistan by countries, 2018-2024, $ 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, 2018-2024
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 Southern Asia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of raw silk, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of raw silk, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Southern Asia's raw silk production has increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the region produced 36 138 tonnes of raw silk, representing a modest 1.7% increase compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 18.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	5.1%	10.8%	1.7%	5.8%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports raw silk from Southern Asia

Exports in kind, t

In 2019, Southern Asia exported 11.3 tonnes of raw silk, remaining broadly stable compared to 2018. Between 2017 and 2019, exports surged by 24 290.2%, translating to an annualized growth rate of 524.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Southern Asia exported raw silk worth 486 thousand US dollars in 2019, staying virtually unchanged from 2018. Over the 2017-2019 period, export value increased by 19 424.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of 480.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports raw silk to Southern Asia

Imports in kind, t

Southern Asia imported 384.7 tonnes of raw silk in 2020, reflecting a 44.3% decrease from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports declined by 19.8%, with a compound annual decrease of 7.1%. The peak import volume was recorded in 2019 at 691.1 tonnes, which represented a 50.5% increase from the previous year.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(4.3%)	50.5%	(44.3%)	(7.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, China, the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan were the key sources for raw silk imports into Southern Asia, accounting for 37.4%, 19.3%, and 17.2% of total import volume respectively. Together, these three countries represented 74.0% of all imports.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Following two years of growth, Southern Asia's raw silk imports declined in 2020. Import value totaled 14 683 thousand US dollars, indicating a 36.6% decrease from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 3.7%, equating to an annualized decline of 1.3%. The highest import value was recorded in 2019 at 23 161 thousand US dollars, which marked a 47.8% increase from the previous year.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	2.7%	47.8%	(36.6%)	(1.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

During the 2017-2020 period, three principal markets — China, the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan — together accounted for 71.4% of the total value of raw silk imports into Southern Asia.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io