Silk; silk-worm cocoons suitable for reeling

HS code 500100 covers silk and silk-worm cocoons suitable for reeling. Silk is a natural protein fiber produced by silk-worm larvae, and has been a highly valued textile material for centuries. The global silk industry plays a significant role in the international trade of luxury and high-end textile products, contributing to the economies of major silk-producing countries such as China, India, and Brazil.

The production of silk involves several key steps. First, silk-worm larvae are reared and fed a diet of mulberry leaves. As the larvae mature, they spin cocoons made of a continuous silk filament. These cocoons are then boiled or steamed to kill the pupae inside, after which the silk filaments are unwound and processed into raw silk. The raw silk is then woven or knitted into a variety of silk fabrics and textiles.

The primary inputs for the silk industry include silk-worm eggs, mulberry leaves for feeding the larvae, and specialized equipment for cocoon harvesting, silk reeling, and fabric production. Silk production also requires skilled labor, particularly in the manual processes of cocoon unwinding and yarn preparation. Additionally, the industry relies on access to clean water sources and consistent power supply for the various processing stages.

The main outputs of the silk industry are raw silk fibers, silk fabrics, and silk-based textile products. These outputs are consumed by a range of downstream industries, including 500200 Silk, raw, not thrown, 500300 Silk, waste, not thrown, and 500400 Silk, yarn, not put up for retail sale, which further process and incorporate silk into a wide array of high-value garments, accessories, and home furnishings.