Tehran – Iran has harvested and marketed more than 75% of its fresh silk cocoon crop, with total production projected to reach 1,100 metric tons this year, valued at approximately 13 trillion rials (1,300 billion tomans), according to the National Sericulture Development Center.

 

Center head Habibollah Rezadoost said favorable weather conditions have made this one of the strongest sericulture seasons in recent years, delivering higher yields, better-quality cocoons, and stronger market prices.

 

Gilan remains the country's largest silk cocoon producer, followed by North Khorasan, Razavi Khorasan, Golestan, and Mazandaran.

 

Private sector demand has remained strong, with fresh cocoons selling for 12.5–14 million rials (1.25–1.4 million tomans) per kilogram, significantly increasing farmers' incomes.

 

Rezadoost said Iran's textile industry consumes 550–560 metric tons of silk yarn annually, but domestic production meets less than 40% of demand, requiring imports to cover the remaining 60%.

 

He added that expanding mulberry plantations, the primary food source for silkworms, is key to increasing domestic silk production and reducing import dependence. To support the sector, the Ministry of Agriculture has raised the distribution of mulberry saplings from 380,000 last year to 450,000 this year.