How much silk does China produce and export?
China is the 2nd largest producer of silk: 147,000 tonnes in 2024, 32% of the world's 464,010 tonnes (FAOSTAT). It is the largest exporter by value: $177.8 million in 2024, 48% of world exports of silk (HS 5002) (CEPII BACI). Its biggest customer is Romania, which takes 28% of its silk exports by value.
All about silk · All about China
China's silk production
| World rank | Production (tonnes) | Share of world | Ten-year growth | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 147,000 tonnes | 32% | -10.9% a year | 2024 |
FAOSTAT Crops and livestock products (QCL), 2024. World total is the sum of reporting countries.
Share of world output over time
| 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2020 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44% | 59% | 65% | 35% | 32% |
China's silk exports
| World rank | Export value | Share of world exports | Quantity (tonnes) | Average value per tonne | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $177.8 million | 48% | 3,016 t | $58,953 | 2024 |
CEPII BACI international trade database (HS22, V202601), HS 5002 (Raw silk, not thrown).
Where China's silk goes
China as a buyer of silk
China imported $5.1 million of silk (HS 5002) in 2024, 1.4% of world imports, ranked #11.
Cite as: Commodity Origins, "China silk: production, exports and prices", https://commodityorigins.com/countries/CHN/silk/ (CC BY 4.0). Rankings count only countries reporting to the sources named; this page is shown only for top-five producers or exporters with at least 3% of the world total. Report an issue with this page.