Sericulture is the process of producing silk - including Mulberry Silk - from silk worms. It's an ancient practice and its origins are not entirely clear. However, archaeologists have found evidence of silk being produced in China from the 3rd Millennium BC - that's around 5,000 years!
China's success in Silk Production led to the emergence of a trading route known as the Silk Roads, connecting Asia and Europe economically and culturally.
This long-term connection to silk production may help explain why China is the world's largest producer of silk today - accounting for around 58% of the world's silk production in 2020 according to the International Sericultural Commission.
Outside of China, India is a major producer - accounting for around 37% of global production. But beyond that it really is a long-tail of smaller industries from Uzbekistan to Japan.
Top 10 Silk Producers by Country, 2020
| Country | Silk Production (% of global total) |
| China | 58.15% |
| India | 36.80% |
| Uzbekistan | 2.22% |
| Vietnam | 1.06% |
| Thailand | 0.57% |
| Brazil | 0.41% |
| Iran | 0.29% |
| North Korea | 0.40% |
| Bangladesh | 0.04% |
| Japan | 0.02% |
Source: International Sericultural Commission, UN Reg. No. 10418
