Today, the Ministry of Commerce convened a national meeting on silk and silk industry development in Nanchong. The event aimed to review recent progress in the sector, exchange experiences across regions, analyze current challenges, and explore strategies for sustainable growth in a new era. The goal was to clarify future directions and plan the next steps for the industry. Below are three key points I would like to share:
1. Significant Progress Has Been Made in the Silk Industry
Since 2006, the Ministry of Commerce has implemented the “East-Silk Moving†strategy, aligning with national policies to promote development in western China, revitalize the northeast, and boost the central region. This initiative has helped reshape the silk industry’s regional layout, creating a more balanced and collaborative environment across eastern, central, and western China.
(A) Optimized Regional Structure, More Rational Industrial Layout
The central and western regions have become the main centers for sericulture. From 2003 to 2005, these areas accounted for 69% of the national mulberry area and 55% of silkworm cocoons. By 2009, those figures rose to 74% and 66%, respectively. Supported by government policies and investment, 106 sericulture bases were built in the central and western regions, developing nearly 1.6 million mu of mulberry fields.
Several major sericulture belts have emerged, including Guangxi and northern Guangdong, Sichuan and Chongqing, Shanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, and Hebei, as well as the middle region. These areas now account for over 60% of the country’s total silk output. This shift has helped stabilize the industry as production in the east declined.
The central and western regions have also seen increased processing capacity, with silk production rising from 32% in 2003 to 51% in 2009. In Guangxi, mulberry silk output jumped from 0.2 million tons (2.5% of the national total) in 2003 to 16,200 tons (17%) in 2009.
Meanwhile, the eastern region has focused on innovation and upgrading. Clusters such as Hangzhou’s silk and women’s clothing alliance, Shengzhou’s tie industry, and Hai’an County in Jiangsu have established strong industrial ecosystems, improving efficiency and competitiveness.
(B) Enhanced Industrial Level, Improved Overall Competitiveness
The industry chain has been extended, with many enterprises setting up operations in the central and western regions. This has led to better resource allocation and structural upgrades. Processing has moved from basic reeling to weaving, clothing, and comprehensive development.
Technological advancements have also boosted quality and efficiency. New looms, digital printing, and eco-friendly technologies have improved fabric quality and reduced energy use. In the central and western regions, scientific breeding methods have significantly enhanced cocoon and silk quality.
The industrial network has strengthened through cooperative models like “company + base + farmer,†fostering stronger economic communities. Information systems have also improved, enabling better policy dissemination and market coordination.
(C) Boosting Farmers’ Income and Supporting Rural Development
Silk farming has become a major source of income for rural households. In 2009, farmers earned 12.42 billion yuan, a 11.2% increase from the previous year. In 2010, spring harvests brought in 6.6 billion yuan, a 70.8% rise. The 106 supported sericulture bases generate about 2.6 billion yuan annually for 500,000 farmers.
The “East-Silk Moving†project has not only increased incomes but also introduced modern techniques and ideas to rural areas. It has fostered a generation of skilled, knowledgeable farmers and accelerated rural development, improving infrastructure and promoting material, spiritual, and ecological progress.
Overall, the silk industry has evolved into a more balanced, efficient, and sustainable sector, contributing significantly to both economic growth and rural revitalization.
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