California Apparel News

Americans’ love affair with clothes took a break in 2008.

Apparel imports this year are expected to decline nearly 3 percent, with even China being affected by this year’s economic slowdown.

Still, nearly one out of three garments imported from overseas came from the apparel factory to the world. U.S. government statistics show that from January to October, the United States imported $21.2 billion worth of apparel from China, down 1.2 percent from the same period last year. Clothing from China made up the largest chunk of the $63.7 billion imported into the United States during the first 10 months of this year.

The big winner in apparel production was Vietnam, which is seen as a viable alternative to apparel making in China. Wages and production costs are still low in Vietnam, which has seen its competitive advantage increase since it joined the World Trade Organization last year, making its goods free from quota restrictions.

Vietnam saw its apparel exports to the United States jump 22.5 percent during the first 10 months of this year to $4.4 million, making it the No. 2 supplier of clothing to the U.S. market, after China.

Mexico, which used to be the No. 2 apparel provider, saw its garment exports dip 10.5 percent during the first 10 months of this year to $3.5 billion, making it the sixth-largest provider of clothing to the U.S. market.

When it came to apparel exports, garment makers in the United States got some help from a weak U.S. dollar, which made goods cheaper for overseas buyers. During the first 10 months of 2008, U.S. clothing exports inched up 3.6 percent to $3.5 billion. —Deborah Belgum

(link for U.S. Textile and Apparel Imports & Exports)