Market research

Silkworm cocoons market in Eastern Africa

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Eastern Africa" region includes following countries:

British Indian Ocean Territory

Burundi

Comoros

Mayotte

Ethiopia

Eritrea

French Southern Territories

Djibouti

Kenya

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Reunion

Rwanda

Seychelles

Somalia

Zimbabwe

South Sudan

Uganda

Tanzania

Zambia

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, silkworm cocoon production in Eastern Africa increased from 50 thousand kg to 57 thousand kg. This expansion was driven by major sericulture initiatives, including Uganda's large-scale silkworm project launched in 2017 with government funding aimed at establishing mulberry cultivation and rearing infrastructure. Concurrently, in Kenya, the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) began purchasing cocoons from farmers and providing training, which encouraged adoption and boosted output.

After 2020, production stabilized at 57 thousand kg annually, while market volume fluctuated due to import variations. In 2021, imports surged to 5.8 thousand kg, lifting the total market to 63 thousand kg. However, imports fell sharply in 2022, reducing the market to 58 thousand kg. During this period, Kenyan research focused on improving silkworm strains and developing quality standards, while Rwanda allocated government funding for sericulture training to enhance silk quality and bridge supply gaps.

By 2023, the market recovered to 60 thousand kg, supported by growing farmer participation in Kenya and continued training programs in Rwanda. The sector saw its first significant exports of 1.9 thousand kg, indicating developing international trade linkages. Ongoing efforts included Kenya's university partnerships to disseminate improved silkworm varieties and Uganda's assessments to revitalize stalled project components.

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 Eastern Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Africa in kind, 2018-2023, kg
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. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, kg
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    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 British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory 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, kg
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    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 British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory 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, kg
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    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 British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory 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, kg
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    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 British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from British Indian Ocean Territory 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 British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, kg
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, kg
  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 Eastern Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, kg

Top producers of silkworm cocoons, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of silkworm cocoons, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Silkworm cocoon production in Eastern Africa has increased for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 57 140 kg of silkworm cocoons, which represents an 8.8% increase compared to 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 19%, with an average annual growth rate of 6.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	4.2%	5.0%	8.8%	6.0%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports silkworm cocoons from Eastern Africa

According to industry analysis, there were no exports of silkworm cocoons from Eastern Africa between 2017 and 2020.

Imports silkworm cocoons to Eastern Africa

Imports in kind, kg

Eastern Africa's imports of silkworm cocoons have declined for the second consecutive year. In 2019, import volume was 57 kg, showing a sharp decrease of 95.8% compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2019, imports fell by 97.5%, which translates to an annualized decline of 70.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(40.7%)	(95.8%)	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, China was the primary and nearly exclusive source for silkworm cocoon imports to Eastern Africa, making up 91.4% of total imports.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, $ US

Eastern Africa's imports of silkworm cocoons have declined for the second year in a row. In 2019, the region imported a total of 856 US dollars worth of silkworm cocoons, marking a 63.4% drop compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2019, imports decreased by 78.9%, with an average annual decline of 40.4%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(42.3%)	(63.4%)	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, China and South Africa accounted for the majority of silkworm cocoon imports to Eastern Africa in value terms, while other markets played a less significant role.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Eastern Africa in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io