Silk Industry and Export in India

Exports of silk and silk products from India reached US$ 190 million in FY23.

Source: Central Silk Board

Last updated: Apr, 2024

Introduction

India is the second-largest producer of silk in the world. The country’s sericulture industry employs around 9.2 million people in rural and semi-urban areas (as per 2022-23). The industry is one of the largest foreign exchange earners in the country. The sericulture activities in India are spread across 52,360 villages. India produces four types of natural silks: Mulberry, Eri, Tasar, and Muga. The country produces silk garments, made-ups, fabrics, yarns, carpets, shawls, scarves, cushion covers, and accessories through the raw material.

In FY23, India produced 36,582 metric tons (MT) of silk. The total silk production in India during 2021-2022 was 34,903 MT, an increase of 3.4% YoY over the previous year (33,770 MT). The share of mulberry production is the largest among other types of silk produced in the country. The major silk-producing states in the country are Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. Karnataka contributed around 32.3% of the total silk production in the country during 2022-23. This was followed by Andhra Pradesh which had a share of 26.0% in the overall silk production during 2022-23.

share of silk-type in India's total silk production

Export Trend

India exports raw silk, natural silk yarn, fabrics & made-ups, readymade garments, silk waste and handloom products of silk. In FY23, India’s exports of silk and silk products stood at US$ 220.58 million. During April 2023- January 2024, the exports of silk and silk products stood at US$ 213 million. During 2021-22, the country’s silk and silk products exports were valued at US$ 248.56 million, an increase of 25.3% over the previous year. This growth was achieved despite COVID-19 pandemic-induced challenges and global supply chain disruptions. Product-wise split for the exports for 2023-24 (until January 2024) was as follows - natural silk yarn exports were US$ 63 million (up 3.89% YoY), silk readymade garments exports were US$ 78 million (up 12.20% YoY), Raw silk were US$ 1 million (up 1236.54% YoY), silk waste exports were US$ 33 million (up 78.54% YoY) and silk carpet export were US$ 37 million (down 9.84% YoY).

In FY23 handloom products of silk were US$ 13.37 million and its contribution to FY23 product exports was 6%.

The natural silk yarn, fabrics, and made ups, and silk readymade garments were the most exported silk products from India with 2023-24 (until January 2024) exports share of 36%, and 45%, respectively. The share of other products in India’s total silk exports were as follows – silk waste (19%), raw silk (1%) and silk carpet (17%).

India enjoys a unique global position in terms of production and exports of all the commercially useful varieties of silk and the government has initiated various trade shows and fairs in order to promote the exports of silk products across the world.

Export Destinations

India’s silk and silk products are in high demand throughout the world. The country exports to more than 30 countries in the world. Some of the top importers were the USA, UAE, China, UK, Australia, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Canada, Malaysia, and Nepal during 2022-23.

The USA was the top importer of silk products from India with a share of 24.7% as of 2022-23. The UAE was the second largest importer of Indian silk after the USA, with a share of 19.8%. These countries were followed by China, the UK, Australia, and Italy which had 7.8%, 7.2%, 4.7, and 4.2% of the total exports share, respectively.

Silk carpets constituted the majority of the share in the exports to the USA, with 33.72% of all silk products. This was followed by readymade garments which constituted 27.32% of the total. Natural silk yarn, fabrics, and made ups were 16.97% of the total share exported to the USA.

Natural silk yarn, fabrics, and made ups comprised the majority of the products exported to UAE with a share of 52.80% in the total exported products. Silk carpets constituted 24.50% and silk readymade garments constituted 17.93% of the total exported products to UAE.

Silk waste was the major product exported to China with a share of 92.53% of the total exported products.

country-wise share of India's silk exports

Government Initiatives

For the development and growth of the silk industry in India, the government has implemented several research & development, training, transfer of technology and IT initiatives. The focus is to develop new technologies, train a larger workforce, provide education, and enhance connectivity between scientists, experts, and developers. In addition to these, there are various schemes such as the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) and Silk Samagra and Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP) are implemented for the development of the industry.

Silk Samagra

Silk Samagra was an Integrated Scheme for Development of Silk Industry (ISDSI) which the Government of India introduced through the Central Silk Board (CSB). This scheme had a total outlay of Rs. 2,161.68 crore (US$ 272.8 million) for 3 years (2017-18 to 2019-20) and was aimed at the complete development of the silk industry in India. This scheme will aid in scaling up silk production by improving quality and productivity.

Sericulture Development in the North-Eastern States (NERTPS)

The Government of India had launched the sericulture development scheme within an umbrella scheme, namely “North-East Region Textile Promotion scheme”. The objective of this scheme was the revival, expansion, and diversification of sericulture in the state with a special focus on Eri and Muga silks.

Governing Body

The Indian Silk Export Promotion Council (ISEPC)

Sponsored by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, the ISEPC is an apex body of the exporters, manufacturers and merchandisers. The main activities of the council are to explore markets, establish contacts with potential buyers, organize buyer-seller meets, silk fairs, and exhibitions, resolve trade disputes, and promote and develop the Indian silk industry and exports.

RELATED SITES

Central Silk Board The Indian Silk Export Promotion Council Ministry of Commerce and Industry Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)