Late-May to mid-June is the concentrated spring cocoon purchase season in
Jiangsu and Zhejiang. This year white and colored cocoons posted strong
production and sales, with pronounced price dispersion across varieties.
Downstream demand, supported by domestic fashion trends, has pushed silk fabric
mills to full capacity and left order books filled through the end of August. At
Hangzhou China Silk City merchants report strong demand for xiangyunsha,
jacquard and Song brocade; one garment buyer says monthly procurement exceeds
100,000 metres and inventory levels fall to roughly 10% after a month. Raw silk
prices have eased slightly, but capacity-constrained, technically demanding
mulberry-silk fabrics such as xiangyunsha retain pricing power and factory-gate
prices have held or risen modestly.
