Market research

Silkworm cocoons market in Japan

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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Earlier Report Observations

The market for silkworm cocoons in Japan contracted significantly between 2018 and 2023, with total volume falling from 116.3 tons to 45.0 tons. The initial decline accelerated in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic caused global supply chain disruptions, reducing production and imports.

The downward trend continued in the following years as the industry faced structural challenges. A shrinking domestic consumer base due to Japan's aging population and low birth rate reduced demand for traditional silk products. Additionally, high production costs and the need for skilled labor constrained the industry's ability to stabilize output.

Despite efforts by integrated trading companies to support the supply chain from raw material procurement to sales, these measures could not offset the market's contraction. By 2023, both production and market volume had fallen to 45 tons, reflecting the persistent pressures on the sector.

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, t
  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, 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. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, kg
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Japan in kind, 2018-2025, kg
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Japan by countries, 2018-2025, kg
    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, kg
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Japan in kind, 2018-2025, kg
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Japan by countries, 2018-2025, kg
    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, kg
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Japan in kind, 2018-2025, kg
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Japan by countries, 2018-2025, kg
    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, kg
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Japan in kind, 2018-2025, kg
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Japan by countries, 2018-2025, kg
    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, 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, 2018-2025
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 silkworm cocoons in Japan

In kind, 2018-2021, t

Japan was among the world's leading producers of silkworm cocoons from 2018 to 2021, ranking 15th globally by production volume during this period.

Top producers of silkworm cocoons, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of silkworm cocoons, 2018-2021

Source: SHEV.io

Silkworm cocoon production in Japan declined for the third consecutive year. In 2021, Japan produced 61.0 tonnes of silkworm cocoons, representing a 23.8% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the 2018-2021 period, production fell by 44.5%, with an average annual decline of 17.8%.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(16.4%)	(13.0%)	(23.8%)	(17.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports silkworm cocoons from Japan

Exports in kind, kg

In 2021, Japan's exports of silkworm cocoons amounted to 7 kilograms, showing little change from the previous year. Between 2018 and 2021, exports decreased by 99%, which translates to an average annual decline of 78.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Japan in kind, 2018-2021, kg

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	(78.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, the United States dominated Japan's export structure for silkworm cocoons, consistently accounting for 95.5% of total export volumes.

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

Japan exported 6.6 thousand US dollars worth of silkworm cocoons in 2021, with only minor fluctuations compared to the prior year. Between 2018 and 2021, exports decreased by 90%, corresponding to an average annual decline of 53.6%.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	(53.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

During the 2018-2021 period, Japan's export market for silkworm cocoons was highly concentrated, with the United States alone responsible for 95.9% of total export value.

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 silkworm cocoons to Japan

Imports in kind, kg

Japan's imports of silkworm cocoons declined for the third consecutive year. In 2021, imports were recorded at 2 400 kilograms, which is 29.4% lower than the previous year. Over the 2018-2021 period, imports decreased by 65.7%, with an average annual decline of 30.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Japan in kind, 2018-2021, kg

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(28.6%)	(32.0%)	(29.4%)	(30.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2018 to 2021, Japan's imports of silkworm cocoons were almost entirely concentrated in China, which accounted for 97.2% of total import volumes.

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

Japan's imports of silkworm cocoons declined for the third consecutive year. In 2021, imports were recorded at 66.3 thousand US dollars, representing a significant decrease of 18.9% compared to 2020. Between 2018 and 2021, imports decreased by 68.5%, equating to an average annual decline of 31.9%.

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

Parameter		2019	2020	2021	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(37.5%)	(37.8%)	(18.9%)	(31.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout the 2018-2021 period, China remained the dominant and nearly exclusive source for Japan's imports of silkworm cocoons in value terms, with a share of 98.8%.

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