US apparel import from Asean shoots up in Jan-Sept'13

19 Nov '13

2 min read

The imports of apparel by the United States from the Southeast Asian (Asean) region increased by 6.41 percent in the first nine months of the current year to $13.935 billion, compared to imports of $13.096 billion made during the corresponding period of last year, according to the Major Shippers Report released by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Of these, clothing imports from Vietnam surged by 13.47 percent year-on-year to $6.051 billion from January to September 2013, compared to imports worth $5.333 billion made during the same period last year.

During the nine-month period, the US imported $386.621 million worth of garments from Malaysia, showing a rise of 13.80 percent over imports of $339.728 million made during the corresponding period of 2012.

However, US clothing imports from Indonesia and Cambodia witnessed a modest growth of 1.81 percent year-on-year and 1.16 percent year-on-year to $3.851 billion and $1.926 billion, respectively, according to the data.

On the other hand, US apparel imports from Philippines and Thailand fell slightly by 1.15 percent year-on-year and 0.65 percent year-on-year to $880 million and $808 million, respectively.

Among the non-Asean countries which saw a sharp rise in their clothing exports to the US during the period under review included Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Haiti and Kenya.

Bangladesh was the fourth largest garment exporter to the US in January-September 2013 with exports of $3.864 billion, showing a rise of 9.84 percent year-on-year.

China continued to be the top most supplier of apparel to the US with exports of $22.361 billion, registering a growth of 2.60 percent year-on-year.

The island nation of Sri Lanka earned $1.221 billion through apparel exports to the US during the period under review, recording a sharp increase of 10.33 percent year-on-year.

The overall clothing imports made by the US from January to September 2013 stood at $60.257 billion, up 3.72 percent year-on-year.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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