US’ imports of textiles and apparel have continued to decrease in value terms, falling by 19.98 percent to $25.874 bn in the first three months of 2023, compared to $32.331 bn during the same period in 2022. China remains the largest supplier of textiles and clothing to the US, holding a 23.78 percent market share, followed by Vietnam with a 14.75 percent share.
In January-March 2023, the bulk of US textile imports consisted of apparel, amounting to $19.472 bn, while non-apparel imports accounted for $6.400 bn, according to the latest Major Shippers Report released by the US department of commerce. Both segments experienced a decline in inbound shipments.
Apparel imports dropped by 19.73 percent compared to the $24.259 bn traded in January-March 2022, while non-apparel imports fell by 20.71 percent from $6.400 bn in the same period of the previous year.
Among the top ten apparel suppliers to the US, the import from any country did not register rise. The imports from China and Cambodia declined by 34.89 percent and 32.57 percent, respectively. The import from Vietnam dropped 24.25 percent, Pakistan 26.97 percent, Honduras 15.84 percent, Bangladesh 13.34 per cent and India 11 per cent.
Among the top ten suppliers in the non-apparel category, imports from Mexico experienced a year-on-year growth of 10.20 percent. Imports from no other country rose in this period. Imports from Vietnam, on the other hand, declined by 12.58 percent. Inbound shipments from other countries, such as China, Turkey, and Canada, also decreased. Specifically, imports from China decreased by 33.28 percent and from India by 21.73 percent.
During the period under review, US textile and apparel imports totalled $25.874 bn. Man-made fibre products accounted for $13.258 bn, while cotton products were valued at $10.876 bn. Wool products made up $780.065 mn, and products from silk and vegetable fibres were worth $956.980 mn.
In 2022, US imports of textiles and apparel continued to rise, reaching $132.201 bn, up from $113.938 bn in 2021. This increase followed a sharp decline in 2020 when the country’s inbound shipments dropped to $89.596 bn, compared to imports of $111.033 bn in 2019.
