Africa accounts for just 3.63% of US apparel imports

According to Fibre2Fashion's market insight tool TexPro, the US imported $45.966 billion worth of apparel from January to July 2024. Of this, imports from Africa were valued at $1,669.955 million. Africa ranks fifth in the regional breakdown of US apparel imports. The Asia-Pacific region, which includes major textile and apparel-exporting countries, contributed 71.81 per cent of the total. Central and South America accounted for 12.34 per cent, while Europe and North America contributed 4.57 per cent and 4.07 per cent, respectively.

In the same period in 2023, US apparel imports from Africa were slightly higher, valued at $1,772.442 million, accounting for 3.71 per cent of the total apparel imports of $47.718 billion, according to TexPro.

For the entire year of 2023, the US' apparel imports from Africa totalled $2,955.973 million, out of an overall import volume of $81.532 billion. Africa’s share remained steady at 3.63 per cent.

In 2020, US apparel imports from Africa dropped 18.1 per cent to $2,229.572 million due to COVID-related disruptions. However, the trade rebounded strongly, surging 33.21 per cent to $2,970.086 million in 2021. This growth continued with a 24.58 per cent increase to $3,700.056 million in 2022, before dipping 20.11 per cent to $2,955.973 million in 2023.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)