Production of various types of silk depends upon the amount of availability of mulberry tree leaves, which is limited between 15°to to 45° latitudes in both hemispheres. Therefore, only China, Korea, Japan, India, Iran, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Brazil are the largest Silk Producing Countries in the world.
While on the other hand silk fabrics (natural) are mostly used in wealthy countries. Therefore the industry is located in Japan, China, India, France, Italy, the U.S.A., Germany, Spain, Korea, and Pakistan.
Silk Producing Countries in World – Rank by Production
Silk Exporting Countries | Total Exports in 2017 |
---|---|
China | US$ 1.1 Billion |
Italy | US$ 271.3 Million |
Romania | US$ 95.6 Million |
Vietnam | US$ 89.8 Million |
India | US$ 76.6 Million |
France | US$ 59.1 Million |
Japan | US$ 53.7 Million |
Germany | US$ 51.6 Million |
South Korea | US$ 49.5 Million |
Hong Kong | US$ 34.3 Million |
1. China Silk Production
China is the largest raw silk and silk fabric producer in the world. The woven on hand looms in China, where an abundant supply of cheap labor is available. The Si-Kiang and the Lower Yangtze, Kiang valleys are traditional sericulture areas and the homeland of silk manufacturing in China. This is why silk prices in China are relatively low compared to the international market.
According to the statistical survey of 2012, China produced 126000 Million tons. China produces 60% of the world’s. It exports raw silk and fabrics to the U.S.A., U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and other countries. Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Canton are the main silk manufacturing cities in China.
2. Japan
Japan is an important raw silk and artificial silk producer in the world. It is too advanced in silk cloth and fabric manufacturing, which is largely synthetic fibers.
Natural silk cloth is mostly located in Central Honshu, particularly around Okaya and Nagoya. While synthetic silk mills are mostly located on the west coast and in Fukui, Kanazawa, and Niigata. Kyoto, Gumma, and Tochigi are manufacturing centers.
According to a statistical survey in 2012, Japan produced 30 Million tons. It was very high production after China.
3. France
Silk manufacturing developed in France in the 19th century in the valleys of Rhone and Lyons city. France uses 70% silk for interior products, which use in daily routines.
Today Lyons is an important silk manufacturing center in the west. France imports raw silk from China, Japan, Korea, Bulgaria, and Greece.
4. India
Silk Producing States in India | Production in MT |
---|---|
Karnataka | 9800 |
Andhra Pradesh | 5000 |
Assam | 3300 |
West Bengal | 2400 |
Jharkhand | 2300 |
India ranking fourth among the leading sericulture countries has not only a time-honored silk tradition but a rich silk fauna. The process of making has been practiced in India since ancient times. India is an important silk-producing country. India is exporting different types of silk to various countries.
Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, and Orissa are other states prominent in silk manufacturing.
The first mill was established by “The East India Company” at Howrah in 1832 at present Karnataka is the premier producing state 52%.
5. Italy
Italy is a pioneer country in sericulture and silk textile manufacturing in Europe. In the 16th century, sericulture started in the Po river valley and Alpine piedmont region, which was home to mulberry tree cultivation. In this region, Milan city became the silk textile center.
Today Milan is the center of silk cloth and fabrics manufacturing. Venice, Geneva, Komo, and Bergamo are some silk textile manufacturing centers.
6. USA – United States of America
It has a large silk industry that commands the world’s synthetic silk. The U.S. market demands high-standard luxury apparel. Due to the large market and high demand, the U.S.A. imports silk cloth and fabrics from China, Japan, France, and Italy.
Preston New Jersey was the first silk textile manufacturing center in the US. While now Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Allentown, and Easton cities have a sizable share.
7. Russian Federation
Artificial manufacturing started in Russia before “The Revolution of 1918”. Russian Federation and common-wealth nations produce bulk amounts of raw silk /artificial, availability of fossil fuels, technological development, and the large market has manufactured.
In Russian Federation largest silk textile, manufacturing center is the Moscow-Tula region. Besides Ukraine and all Central Asian states manufacture large amounts.
8. Pakistan
Silk manufacturing is an old household industry in Pakistan but, Modern silk textile mill was erected in 1948 in Karachi. Pakistan uses artificial silk for textile manufacturing. Faisalabad, Karachi, Gujranwala, Sheikhpura, Hyderabad, Khairpur, Peshawar, and Swat are the main silk textile manufacturing centers in Pakistan.
China, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea are big Asian countries, which export more than 50% of silk textile and fabrics to other countries. While Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Russian Federation, India, Indonesia and Malaysia, U.S.A. also export me amounts of silk textiles to other countries.

Lisa is a passionate travelers. She spends 3 months every year visiting different places worldwide. She has visited almost every famous place in the world. She herself is an affiliate blogger
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