Market research

Silkworm cocoons market in South America

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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"South America" region includes following countries:

Argentina

Bolivia

Bouvet Island

Brazil

Chile

Colombia

Ecuador

Falkland Islands (Malvinas)

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

French Guiana

Guyana

Paraguay

Peru

Suriname

Uruguay

Venezuela

Earlier Report Observations

The South American market for silkworm cocoons contracted significantly between 2018 and 2023, with production volume falling from 3 055 t to 1 715 t. This decline led the total market size to shrink from 3 055 t to 1 713 t, a trend exacerbated in 2021 by exports of 242 t which further reduced domestic supply.

During this period, local sericulture development initiatives persisted, notably in Argentina where efforts by artist Gisela Martínez in collaboration with INTA and INTI have promoted silk farming since 2010, including establishing a production unit in La Pampa. However, these activities did not offset the broader regional production decline.

The 2023 confirmation of the Mercosur-European Union trade agreement, which plans for tariff reductions on agricultural goods, established a framework that could potentially benefit future exports of silk-related products from South America, though its impact was not yet visible in cocoon trade volumes by the end of the period.

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 South America
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in South America 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 Argentina in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Argentina 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 Argentina in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Argentina 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 Argentina, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Argentina 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 Argentina in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Argentina 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 Argentina in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Argentina 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 Argentina, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Argentina 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 Argentina in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Argentina 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 Argentina in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Argentina 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 Argentina, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Argentina 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 Argentina in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Argentina 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 Argentina in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Argentina 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 Argentina, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Argentina 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 South America

In kind, 2017-2020, t

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 South America has declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 2 742 tonnes of silkworm cocoons, marking a 10.0% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 9.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of 3.4%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 3 055 tonnes, which also saw the largest annual increase of 0.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	0.5%	(0.3%)	(10.0%)	(3.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports silkworm cocoons from South America

Exports in kind, kg

In 2020, South America exported 20 910 kilograms of silkworm cocoons, representing a dramatic increase of 209,000.0% from the previous year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from South America in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	209 000.0%	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, China was the dominant buyer of silkworm cocoons from South America, accounting for 100.0% of total exports in volume.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Silkworm cocoon exports from South America reached 128.9 thousand US dollars in 2020, showing a sharp rise of 84,145.8% compared to 2019.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	84 145.8%	-

Source: SHEV.io

During the 2017–2020 period, silkworm cocoons from South America were primarily shipped to China, which absorbed 99.9% of total exports in value.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports silkworm cocoons to South America

Imports in kind, kg

In 2020, South America imported approximately 146 kilograms of silkworm cocoons, with volumes remaining stable year-over-year compared to 2019. Over the period from 2018 to 2020, imports surged by 6 676.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of 307.7%.

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

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

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, China was the nearly exclusive supplier of silkworm cocoons to South America, holding a 99.3% share of total imports in volume.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, the value of silkworm cocoon imports into South America reached 1.0 thousand US dollars, showing little change from the previous year. Over the 2018–2020 period, imports grew by 2 802.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of 207.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to South America 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

Between 2017 and 2020, two countries—the United States and China—accounted for the majority of imports in value terms, together representing 96.7% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io