This list reveals the top 10 silk importers based on their percentage of global import purchases (shown within parenthesis). In 2017, world silk imports totaled US$1.8 billion.
African Importers
Africa imported $86 million worth of silk led by the following countries:
1. Tunisia: $31.8 million
2. Madagascar: $31.7 million
3. Egypt: $7.2 million
4. Morocco: $5.9 million
5. Namibia: $1.6 million
6. Lesotho: $1.3 million
7. South Africa: $1.3 million
8. Guinea: $1.1 million
9. Zambia: $945,000
10. Botswana: $409,000
Asian Importers
Asia imported $817.8 million worth of silk led by the following countries:
1. India: $250.9 million
2. Japan: $144 million
3. Vietnam: $109.4 million
4. South Korea: $63.5 million
5. China: $50.6 million
6. Hong Kong: $47.9 million
7. Pakistan: $40 million
8. Turkey: $32.9 million
9. Sri Lanka: $21.4 million
10. Malaysia: $12.3 million
European Union (EU) Importers
EU imported $680.3 million worth of silk led by the following EU members:
1. Italy: $331.8 million
2. Romania: $91.2 million
3. France: $78.1 million
4. Germany: $56 million
5. United Kingdom: $43.3 million
6. Bulgaria: $15.7 million
7. Portugal: $11 million
8. Spain: $10.5 million
9. Netherlands: $7.3 million
10. Austria: $6.5 million
Latin American and Caribbean Importers
Latin America (excluding Mexico) and the Caribbean imported $16 million worth of silk led by the following countries:
1. Brazil: $9.5 million
2. Peru: $2.7 million
3. Colombia: $1.3 million
4. Argentina: $1 million
5. Chile: $368,000
6. Uruguay: $269,000
7. Panama: $161,000
8. Bolivia: $101,000
9. Dominican Republic: $78,000
10. Venezuela: $77,000
Middle Eastern Importers
Middle East imported $46 million worth of silk led by the following countries:
1. United Arab Emirates: $18.5 million
2. Iran: $13.5 million
3. Iraq: $2.6 million
4. Oman: $2.5 million
5. Saudi Arabia: $2.3 million
6. Qatar: $2.2 million
7. Lebanon: $1.9 million
8. Bahrain: $911,000
9. Kuwait: $741,000
10. Israel: $631,000
North American Importers
North America imported $94.3 million worth of silk led by the following countries:
1. United States: $84.6 million
2. Canada: $7.1 million
3. Mexico: $2.7 million
Oceanian Importers
Oceania imported $7.2 million worth of silk led by the following countries:
1. Australia: $5 million
2. New Zealand: $1.9 million
3. French Polynesia: $77,000
4. Samoa: $52,000
5. Fiji: $47,000
6. New Caledonia: $38,000
7. Papua New Guinea: $24,000
8. Solomon Islands: $8,000
9. Kiribati: $1,000
To see the 25 fastest-growing silk importers from 2013 to 2017, use the slidebar on the accompanying list. Overall, the 5-year percentage decline for globally imported silk was -26.7%.
Data source: Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis
Fastest-Growing Silk Import Countries
Research Note: Import numbers rarely match the source exporters’ stats. Reasons for import-export statistical discrepancies include re-exports, time lags, misallocations, distinct trade reporting systems, different quantity measurements and country confidentiality rules. Also, transportation and insurance costs are sometimes added to import totals.
Top Silk Importers 2017
