Apparel and Textile Imports Show Strong Gains
U.S. consumers have been replenishing their closets, as seen in a healthy jump in apparel and textile imports from overseas manufacturers.
Imports from China and Vietnam jumped 20 percent for the year ending April 30, according to the most recent U.S. trade data, while India, Bangladesh and Indonesia also made major strides in boosting its apparel and textile exports to the United States.
China is still the No. 1 supplier, accounting for 41 percent of all U.S. apparel and textiles imports. For the 12-month period ending April 30, China exported $39.5 billion to the United States, according to the U.S. Office of Textiles and Apparel.
Vietnam maintained its No. 2 position as one of the United States’ top clothing manufacturers by shipping $6.6 billion in clothing.
Apparel and textile factories in India exported nearly $5.6 billion in clothing and textiles to the United States for a 17.5 percent uptick.
Another major powerhouse in apparel and textiles manufacturing has been Indonesia, which is now the No. 4 supplier to the United States. Indonesia exported $4.9 billion in apparel and textile goods to the U.S. market, a 19 percent jump over the same period a year ago.
Mexico, which, several years ago, used to be the United States’ second-largest provider of imported apparel and textiles, is now ranked No. 5. It sent $4.5 billion in goods for a more modest 7.5 percent rise during the one-year period.
In the Latin American region, Honduras maintained its dominant position by manufacturing $2.5 billion in apparel for the U.S. market, up 21 percent for the year ending April 30. No other country in Latin America exports more apparel to the United States than Honduras.
On the export side, the fastest-growing markets for U.S. apparel and textiles included South Korea, Holland, Brazil, Chile and India. Mexico and Canada remained the top export spots for U.S. apparel and textiles.—Deborah Belgum
