Market research

Silkworm cocoons market in China

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

Silkworm cocoon production in China experienced a significant contraction, falling from 352.9 thousand tons in 2018 to 156.9 thousand tons in 2020. This period was marked by substantial industry modernization efforts, including the launch of the high-yield 'Golden Silkworm No. 1' variety in Xidong and the development of novel colorful cocoons by Zhejiang University. Concurrently, major investments entered the market, such as Babei Group's new factory in Zhejiang with an annual capacity of 10 thousand tons and CATHAYA Group's establishment of a dedicated sericulture research institute.

The downward trend continued into 2021, with production reaching 137.0 thousand tons. A modest recovery followed in 2022, with output rising to 146.6 thousand tons, and stabilized at 146.9 thousand tons in 2023. Market size mirrored this movement as foreign trade volumes for cocoons remained negligible throughout the period.

Recent industry developments in 2024 include targeted policy support, such as Hai'an city setting higher purchase targets and offering subsidies for spring cocoons. Technological adoption accelerated with smart silkworm factories in Anhui doubling production cycles, while several regions, including Dongxing in Sichuan and Yanchuan in Shaanxi, initiated pilot projects to diversify into related products like medicinal silkworms and mushroom cultivation.

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 China
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in China in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in China 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, K 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, K 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. 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 China in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from China by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from China by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  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 China, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from China by countries, 2018-2024, $ 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 China in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from China by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from China by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  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 China, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from China by countries, 2018-2024, $ 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 China in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to China by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to China by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  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 China, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to China by countries, 2018-2024, $ 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 China in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to China by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to China by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  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 China, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to China 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 silkworm cocoons in China

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

China was the world's leading producer of silkworm cocoons from 2017 to 2020.

Top producers of silkworm cocoons, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of silkworm cocoons, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

China's silkworm cocoon production declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 156.7 thousand tons, representing a 22.3% year-over-year decrease. Between 2017 and 2020, production fell by 62.5%, which translates to an annualized decline rate of 27.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in China in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(15.5%)	(42.9%)	(22.3%)	(27.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

China's silkworm cocoon production value also declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the output was valued at 3 735 million US dollars, down 21.8% from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, production value decreased by 62.7%, equating to an annualized rate of 28.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in China in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(0.6%)	(52.0%)	(21.8%)	(28.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports silkworm cocoons from China

Exports in kind, t

Silkworm cocoon exports from China declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports totaled 4.5 tons, marking a sharp 26.4% drop compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 45.7%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -18.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(14.4%)	(13.7%)	(26.4%)	(18.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Japan was the dominant destination for China's silkworm cocoon exports in volume terms, accounting for 87.0% of total flows, while other markets made up the remainder.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from China in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Silkworm cocoon export values from China declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to 106 thousand US dollars, showing a steep 26.0% decrease from the prior year. Between 2017 and 2020, export values fell by 45.9%, with an annualized rate of -18.5%. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 198 thousand US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 27.5%, while the largest increase was in 2018 at 0.7%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	0.7%	(27.5%)	(26.0%)	(18.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017-2020, Japan clearly dominated China's silkworm cocoon exports in value terms, capturing 82.8% of total flows, with other countries holding significantly smaller shares.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from China in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports silkworm cocoons to China

Imports in kind, t

Silkworm cocoon imports into China increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports reached 252.4 tons, reflecting a 27.0% year-over-year rise. From 2018 to 2020, imports surged by 4 094.5%, equating to an annualized growth rate of 247.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	3 201.5%	27.0%	-

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Myanmar accounted for nearly all of China's silkworm cocoon imports in volume, with a 98.7% share of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Silkworm cocoon import values into China increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports were valued at 106 thousand US dollars, showing a substantial 127.7% increase over the past year. From 2018 to 2020, import values grew by 9 341.5%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 355.4%.

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