US' textiles & apparel imports drop 13% to $17.5 bn in Jan-Feb 2023

In January-February 2023, the bulk of US textile imports consisted of apparel, amounting to $13.215 billion, while non-apparel imports accounted for $4.339 billion, 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 11.86 per cent compared to the $14.994 billion traded in January-February 2022, while non-apparel imports fell by 16.31 per cent from $5.185 billion in the same period of the previous year. 

Among the top ten apparel suppliers to the US, imports from Nicaragua and Bangladesh increased by 4.70 per cent and 2.30 per cent year-on-year, respectively. Imports from India also saw a slight uptick of 0.42 per cent. However, imports from China and Cambodia declined by 29.65 per cent and 26.05 per cent, respectively. The other five nations among the top ten experienced a downward trend. 

In the non-apparel category, among the top ten suppliers, imports from Mexico grew by 11.98 per cent year-on-year, and those from Vietnam increased by 9.69 per cent. However, imports from the other eight countries, including China, Turkiye, and Canada, declined. Imports from China specifically dipped by 27.99 per cent. 

During the period under review, US textile and apparel imports totalled $17.554 billion. Man-made fibre products accounted for $9.044 billion, while cotton products were valued at $7.350 billion. Wool products made up $533.113 million, and products from silk and vegetable fibres were worth $627.002 million. 

In 2022, US imports of textiles and apparel continued to rise, reaching $132.201 billion, up from $113.938 billion in 2021. This increase followed a sharp decline in 2020 when the country's inbound shipments dropped to $89.596 billion, compared to imports of $111.033 billion in 2019. 

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)