In January 2023, the US’ imports of textiles and apparel declined by 5.7 percent to $9.599 bn, compared to $10.179 bn in January 2022. China, with a 27.83 percent share, remained the largest supplier to the US, followed by Vietnam with 14.45 percent. However, the imports from China witnessed a sharp decline of 25.28 percent in the same period.
Within textiles, apparel constituted the bulk of the imports by the US in January 2023, amounting to $7.266 bn, while non-apparel imports accounted for $2.332 bn, according to the latest Major Shippers Report released by the US department of commerce. Both segments saw a decline in inbound shipment. Apparel imports slipped by 3.44 percent compared to the trade of $7.525 bn in January 2022, while non-apparel imports declined by 12.12 percent from $2.653 bn in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Among the top ten apparel suppliers to the US, imports from Nicaragua and Bangladesh gained 27.60 percent and 15.43 percent year-on-year, respectively. Imports from India and Indonesia also grew by 9.77 percent and 4.73 percent, respectively. However, imports from the other six nations among the top ten, including China and Cambodia, declined by 24.61 percent and 12.92 percent.
In the non-apparel category, among the top ten suppliers, imports from Vietnam gained 19.43 percent year-on-year. Imports from Mexico and Cambodia saw positive growth of 12.89 percent and 3.63 percent, respectively. However, imports from the other seven countries, including China, India, Turkiye, and Canada, declined. The imports from China dipped by 26.58 percent.
Of the total US textile and apparel imports of $9.599 bn during the period under review, man-made fibre products accounted for $4.884 bn, while cotton products were worth $4.121 bn, followed by $279.972 mn worth of wool products, and $314.184 bn worth of products from silk and vegetable fibres.
In 2022, the US imports of textile and apparel further increased to $132.201 bn, up from $113.938 bn in 2021. This was a bounce back after a sharp decline in 2020 when the country’s inbound shipment decreased to $89.596 bn compared to imports of $111.033 bn in 2019.
