US apparel imports from China drop 34% to $3.5 bn in Q1 2023

An analysis of data from Fibre2Fashion's market insight tool TexPro, disclosed a decline in US apparel imports to $3.534 billion in the period from January to March 2023. This compared to the $4.104 billion recorded in the period from October to December 2022, indicating a quarter-on-quarter decrease of approximately 14.63 per cent. In the first quarter of 2022, the shipment was valued at $5.377 billion, thus showing a significant year-on-year decrease of 34 per cent. US imports were previously recorded as $7.571 billion in Q3 and $5.018 billion in Q2. 

In 2022, US apparel imports from China totalled $22.073 billion, an increase from the $20.465 billion reported in 2021. The import figures for previous years were $18.642 billion in 2020, $25.413 billion in 2019, and $27.637 billion in 2018. 

In the fabric sector, US imports were valued at $133.816 million in the first quarter of 2023, showing a decrease compared to the $166.094 million in Q4, 2022, and $223.317 million in Q1, 2022. In the whole of 2022, the US imported fabric worth $811.543 million, which was a marginal decrease from the $831.641 million recorded in 2021. Previous fabric import figures were $829.641 million in 2020, $964.872 million in 2019, and $1,337.501 million in 2018, as per TexPro.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)