Middle East and Africa Silk Market Size (2024-2030)

The Middle East and Africa Silk Market was valued at USD 1.225 billion and is projected to reach a market size of USD 1.51 billion by the end of 2030. Over the forecast period of 2024–2030, the market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3%. 

The natural protein fiber known as silk is created by silkworms. It is a robust, glossy, and long-lasting fiber that is frequently utilized in textiles. This material is known for its lustre, silky texture, and beautiful look. In the past, this market has had good growth. This is because of its historic significance and demand. Presently, with economic improvements and global operations, the market has witnessed a notable expansion. In the future, with a growing focus on innovations, emerging players, and technological advancements, a considerable upsurge is anticipated.

Key Market Insights:

• Millions of people throughout the world rely on the silk business for their livelihood. Activities connected to sericulture, including spinning, weaving, reeling, and silk farming, employ between 7 and 8 million people.
• Globally, the average annual per capita use of silk is around 0.02 kilograms; however, this amount varies greatly between locations and is impacted by both cultural and economic considerations.
• Globally, around 150,000 metric tonnes of raw silk are generated annually.
• The MEA regions account for a very small percentage, which is less than 10% in the silk market when compared to other regions. To tackle this, companies have been working towards creating innovations and expanding their operations globally.

Middle East and Africa Silk Market Drivers:

A growing demand has been helping with the advancement.

Silk items are often associated with luxury. Over the years, there have been numerous changes in the standard of living. As a result, consumer preferences have been changing. Employment opportunities are increasing drastically in various sectors. Due to this, a developing economy is coming into existence. A greater percentage of the population can afford these amenities. Besides, dual income is also boosting the expansion. People have been going out more often to attend parties, meetings, ceremonies, and other events. This has drastically created an elevation for the textile industry, resulting in bulk manufacturing. Furthermore, governmental bodies have been creating better trade relations with other countries that are known for their silk. Countries like China and India are the notable ones. Therefore, an increase in import-export trade has further facilitated the augmentation.

An increasing awareness about preserving cultural heritage has been accelerating development.

Silk has cultural significance in many parts of the Middle East and Africa. Morocco, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, and Turkey are the prominent ones. People have been realising the importance of preserving their heritage. As a result, many crafts and arts by the manufacturers are being encouraged. Innovations and creativity in designs are promoting evolution. Employment opportunities are being increased to attract the younger population. Stitching and weaving are the main sources of income for many old people. Consumers are being motivated to buy local and international silk through various marketing strategies. To keep up with the fashion industry, silk is being used in the wear that is currently trending, apart from ethnic looks. Unique designs that represent an important part of the country are being woven into the clothes to attract tourists. All these measures help strengthen the economy.

Middle East and Africa Silk Market Restraints and Challenges:

Limited infrastructure, competition, climate, and price volatility are the main issues that the market is currently experiencing.

One of the biggest barriers in the market is the lack of resources. This region has a very limited presence in the silk market. Therefore, people might not get into this venture because losses can be incurred in huge amounts. Besides, there is a lack of skilled expertise in these regions, creating a hindrance for the market. This can reduce the demand tremendously. Secondly, this material is subjected to intense competition. Every year, between 420 billion and 1 trillion silkworms are murdered to make silk. Therefore, more sustainable and eco-friendly materials can be preferred. Additionally, other materials like nylon, polyester, and rayon can be preferred as the production process is comparatively easier. Thirdly, sericulture is heavily dependent on the climate for rearing and cultivation. MEA regions have fluctuations in the season, which can impact production. Furthermore, the cost of production associated with it is very high when compared to other options. Labor charges, reeling, and other production charges add up.

Middle East and Africa Silk Market Opportunities:

Product diversity has been providing the market with an ample number of possibilities. Many innovations have been taking place to improve product quality. These materials are being blended with other fabrics to create new options and attract a broader consumer base. Opportunities are being created to expand the market internationally, especially in regions where silk is preferred. This helps increase revenue generation for this market. Silk is being used in the home décor and design industry for various beddings, pillows, curtains, etc. This facilitates better profits. Apart from this, the use of silk is being explored in other industrial applications where it can be commercialized. This includes use in parachutes, bicycle tires, phone cases, and insulation coils.

MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA SILK MARKET REPORT COVERAGE:

Middle East and Africa Silk Market Segmentation:

Middle East and Africa Silk Market Segmentation: By Type:

• Mulberry Silk
• Tussar Silk
• Eri Silk
• Others

Based on type, mulberry silk is the largest market. The silkworms that are fed solely mulberry leaves produce mulberry silk. These silkworms create longer, more evenly sized fibers, which make the cloth they produce stronger, smoother, and glossier.  Because mulberry silk is made of individual long threads, is odorless, and is pure white, it is considered more elegant than other varieties of silk. Apart from this, it is durable, ensuring a higher long-lasting quality and versatility of materials. Furthermore, it helps in providing a soft texture to clothes. Soft clothes are preferred because they avoid any sort of discomfort, allergies, and other rashes. Eri silk is considered to be the fastest-growing category. Because of its natural qualities, it is soft and doesn't irritate or scratch the skin. Hydrophilic silk is a fabric that effectively absorbs water. Being the most absorbent silk, it is widely recognized to be very compatible with natural dyes. The only silk produced in the world that doesn't involve killing silkworms is eri silk. When the Eri silkworms mature into moths, they emerge from their open-ended cocoon. This is the reason vegans are beginning to favor this environmentally friendly silk.

Middle East and Africa Silk Market Segmentation: By End-Users:

• Textile
• Cosmetics
• Medical

Based on end-users, the textile category is both the largest and fastest-growing in the market in 2023. Clothing is the main application of silk. Because of its high absorption capacity and ability to wick away moisture, silk works well for summer clothes. Because of its low conductive qualities, silk is also a wonderful choice for winter attire. It is a distinguished fiber in textiles, smooth, glossy, and soft. Clothing items, including shirts, suits, ties, blouses, lingerie, pajamas, jackets, and so on, are made from raw silk. Furthermore, it provides many benefits. It is strong and durable, because of which it has a longer life. It is even associated with elasticity properties. This makes it easier to shape. Besides this, since silk is a renewable resource, it is regarded as a sustainable fiber. Compared to many other fibers, it requires less energy, water, and chemicals and may biodegrade. Reusing silk waste, such as leftover silk offcuts and abandoned silk cocoons, results in recycled silk. This minimizes the demand for extra resources, such as electricity and water, and decreases textile waste.

Middle East and Africa Silk Market Segmentation: Regional Analysis:

• United Arab Emirates
• Saudi Arabia
• Qatar
• Israel
• South Africa
• Nigeria
• Kenya
• Egypt
• The rest of MEA

Based on region, Egypt is considered to be the largest and fastest-growing in the silk market. This region holds a rough share of 26% in 2023. The primary reason for the success of this region is the historical legacy of many centuries. As such, this region is home to many key players who have paved their way in the industry because of its fine craftsmanship. Emarra Silk, El Kahhal Carpets, and Liontex are the notable companies offering and supplying silk. This region is well-equipped with all the technology required for waving, stitching, and cultivation. Sericulture, which is the rearing of silkworms, provides many job opportunities for the growing population. Additionally, the economy is improved because of the trade activities that are conducted here. Moreover, Egyptian silk is popularly known for its superior quality, which attracts many customers. This region has many tourist places, which further increases the income of the market by appealing to travelers. Furthermore, this region has climatic conditions like relative humidity, hot temperatures, and sunshine, which are essential. Therefore, production as well as cultivation processes become easier. Apart from this, this region has gained attention and is recognized as one of the emerging hubs for silk. Besides this, the region has been working on innovations and unique designs. Collaborations, investments, and launches are being emphasized.

COVID-19 Impact Analysis on the Middle East and African Silk Market:

The outbreak of the virus hurt the market. Lockdowns, movement restrictions, and social isolation were the new normal. This created a lot of disruptions in the supply chain, transportation, and other logistics. Import-export activities were affected by this. There was a lack of labor to carry out end-to-end operations due to uncertainty. Besides, there were tight financial budgets. Most of the funding was shifted towards healthcare applications like research, vaccine development, equipping hospitals and clinics with necessary facilities, and many more. All these factors caused an economic downfall. Furthermore, many people lost their jobs and were prioritizing their essential needs only. All launches and collaborations for this market were delayed or postponed. As per a report by the Hindu Business Line, silk exports were down by 28% globally during the pandemic period. Post-pandemic, the market has started to pick up steadily owing to the upliftment of guidelines and relaxation of regulations.

Latest Trends/Developments:

The companies in this market are motivated to achieve a higher market share by implementing different strategies, such as acquisitions, partnerships, and investments.

The use of silk is rising in biomedical applications. This material can be modified as per the needs of engineering and other technologies. Porous 3D structures, such as sponges, foams, or scaffolds, may be formed using silk fibroin and utilized in biomedical applications, including disease models, implantable devices, and tissue engineering. They are used for these applications because they are biocompatible, biodegradable, and have minimal inflammatory as well as immunogenic responses.

Key Players:

1. Sekem Group
2. Atlas Trading Company
3. Pardis Pars Silk Co.
4. Tehran Silk Co.
5. Moroccan Silk Foundation
6. Bolt Threads, Inc.
7. First Textile Co.
8. P AMSilk GmbH
9. Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc.