EU: Silk Fabric Market 2025

Silk Fabric Market Size in the EU

In 2021, the EU silk fabric market decreased by -1.5% to $X, falling for the second consecutive year after three years of growth. Over the period under review, consumption showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The level of consumption peaked at $X in 2019; however, from 2020 to 2021, consumption stood at a somewhat lower figure.

Silk Fabric Production in the EU

In value terms, silk fabric production stood at $X in 2021 estimated in export price. Overall, production continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2019 when the production volume increased by 22% against the previous year. The level of production peaked at $X in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2021, production remained at a lower figure.

Silk Fabric Exports

Exports in the EU

In 2021, overseas shipments of woven fabrics of silk or of silk waste were finally on the rise to reach X square meters after two years of decline. Overall, exports, however, continue to indicate a abrupt downturn. Over the period under review, the exports attained the maximum at X square meters in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2021, the exports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, silk fabric exports totaled $X in 2021. In general, exports, however, recorded a abrupt downturn. Over the period under review, the exports reached the maximum at $X in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2021, the exports failed to regain momentum.

Exports by Country

In 2021, Italy (X square meters) represented the largest exporter of woven fabrics of silk or of silk waste, mixing up 64% of total exports. France (X square meters) took the second position in the ranking, followed by Spain (X square meters) and Romania (X square meters). All these countries together held approx. 27% share of total exports. The following exporters - Germany (X square meters) and the Netherlands (X square meters) - together made up 4.7% of total exports.

Exports from Italy decreased at an average annual rate of -6.7% from 2012 to 2021. At the same time, the Netherlands (+9.2%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, the Netherlands emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in the European Union, with a CAGR of +9.2% from 2012-2021. By contrast, Spain (-2.7%), Romania (-5.1%), France (-9.0%) and Germany (-20.4%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. While the share of Italy (+9.3 p.p.), Spain (+3.6 p.p.), the Netherlands (+1.7 p.p.) and Romania (+1.6 p.p.) increased significantly in terms of the total exports from 2012-2021, the share of Germany (-6.4 p.p.) displayed negative dynamics. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Italy ($X) remains the largest silk fabric supplier in the European Union, comprising 69% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was taken by France ($X), with an 18% share of total exports. It was followed by Romania, with a 4.4% share.

In Italy, silk fabric exports plunged by an average annual rate of -7.5% over the period from 2012-2021. In the other countries, the average annual rates were as follows: France (-8.2% per year) and Romania (-2.9% per year).

Export Prices by Country

The export price in the European Union stood at $X per square meter in 2021, reducing by -12.6% against the previous year. Overall, the export price recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2014 when the export price increased by 14%. As a result, the export price reached the peak level of $X per square meter. From 2015 to 2021, the export prices remained at a lower figure.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2021, amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was France ($X per square meter), while Spain ($X per square meter) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Romania (+2.3%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Silk Fabric Imports

Imports in the EU

For the ninth consecutive year, the European Union recorded decline in purchases abroad of woven fabrics of silk or of silk waste, which decreased by -2.7% to X square meters in 2021. Overall, imports showed a abrupt downturn. The smallest decline of -2.7% was in 2016. The volume of import peaked at X square meters in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2021, imports stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, silk fabric imports expanded markedly to $X in 2021. Over the period under review, imports faced a abrupt shrinkage. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2018 with an increase of 13% against the previous year. Over the period under review, imports hit record highs at $X in 2012; however, from 2013 to 2021, imports failed to regain momentum.

Imports by Country

Italy represented the major importer of woven fabrics of silk or of silk waste in the European Union, with the volume of imports amounting to X square meters, which was near 46% of total imports in 2021. France (X square meters) took a 14% share (based on physical terms) of total imports, which put it in second place, followed by Romania (9.9%) and Portugal (7.6%). The following importers - the Netherlands (X square meters), Bulgaria (X square meters), Germany (X square meters), Spain (X square meters), Poland (X square meters) and Belgium (X square meters) - together made up 17% of total imports.

From 2012 to 2021, average annual rates of growth with regard to silk fabric imports into Italy stood at -9.9%. At the same time, the Netherlands (+1.6%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, the Netherlands emerged as the fastest-growing importer imported in the European Union, with a CAGR of +1.6% from 2012-2021. Bulgaria experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, Poland (-1.6%), Romania (-4.6%), Portugal (-7.5%), Belgium (-10.2%), France (-10.7%), Spain (-20.2%) and Germany (-20.5%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. From 2012 to 2021, the share of Italy, Romania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Bulgaria and Poland increased by +6, +4.8, +2.6, +2.4, +2.1 and +1.5 percentage points, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, Italy ($X), France ($X) and Romania ($X) constituted the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2021, together comprising 74% of total imports. These countries were followed by Bulgaria, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Portugal and Belgium, which together accounted for a further 21%.

The Netherlands, with a CAGR of +3.3%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of imports, in terms of the main importing countries over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the imports figures.

Import Prices by Country

In 2021, the import price in the European Union amounted to $X per square meter, picking up by 13% against the previous year. Over the period from 2012 to 2021, it increased at an average annual rate of +1.3%. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2018 when the import price increased by 17% against the previous year. Over the period under review, import prices hit record highs in 2021 and is expected to retain growth in the near future.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major importing countries. In 2021, amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was France ($X per square meter), while Portugal ($X per square meter) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2021, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by France (+5.6%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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