Amid widespread pressure on textile exports from fluctuating orders and rising costs, Sichuan's raw silk sector has posted a counter-trend growth. According to data released by Chengdu Customs on July 6, 2026, Sichuan's raw silk exports totaled 105 million yuan from January to May, up 12.4% year-on-year. This growth rate exceeds the national average for textile exports and signals a substantive shift toward high-end production in western China's sericulture industry.
High-End Silk Drives Growth
From a product mix perspective, the core driver is 6A-grade high-end raw silk. The two key production areas, Nanchong and Guang'an in northeastern Sichuan, rely on automated production lines to consistently produce this top-tier quality, directly catering to the stringent demands of the European luxury apparel market. Leading companies saw export growth exceeding 20%, indicating strong customer loyalty rather than price-driven competition.
For buyers, 6A-grade silk offers irreplaceable advantages in uniformity, cleanliness, and breaking strength. European luxury brands' exacting standards create high barriers to entry in this niche. Sichuan's ability to expand its share suggests its technical processes and quality control have aligned with international benchmarks.
Addressing Industry Pain Points with Customs Support
Raw silk trade is not without challenges. Temperature and humidity control during storage and transportation, along with the timeliness and accuracy of quality inspection, remain key pain points affecting export stability. Local customs have responded by sending teams to workshops for targeted technical training, helping companies establish full-process quality traceability from cocoon procurement to finished product.
This 'supervision plus service' model effectively reduces hidden costs for exporters. For small and medium-sized silk mills, building independent quality labs and storage management systems alone is difficult. Customs intervention directly enhances order delivery reliability. From an industry perspective, this provides a replicable management model for improving the quality and efficiency of Sichuan's specialty sericulture foreign trade.
Implications for China's Sericulture Industry
Sichuan's raw silk export growth is not an isolated phenomenon. It reveals a clear path: traditional raw material regions can escape low-price competition through technological upgrading and precise market positioning. Unlike Jiangsu and Zhejiang, which focus on finished fabrics and garments, Sichuan has chosen to deepen its expertise in raw materials, using 6A-grade silk as a differentiator.
This strategy offers a reference for other domestic sericulture regions, such as Guangxi, Yunnan, and Shandong. Instead of price wars on standard specifications, they could concentrate resources on one or two high-value-added categories, combined with coordinated support from local customs and industry associations, to gradually build brand recognition.