US apparel imports from Vietnam continue to grow

07 Jul '14

2 min read

The imports of apparel by the United States from Vietnam continued to grow, while all other countries among the top five garment exporters to the US showed a decline in their exports during the first five months of the current year.

The US clothing imports from Vietnam increased by 15.29 percent to US$ 3.525 billion in January-May 2014 compared to imports of $3.058 billion in the corresponding period of last year, according to the latest Major Shippers Report, released by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

On the other hand, China, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Mexico—also among the top five garment exporters to the US along with Vietnam—saw a negative growth in their exports to the US.

The US apparel imports from China, the main supplier, declined by 0.77 percent year-on-year to $9.872 billion during January-May 2014, the data showed.

Bangladesh, the world’s second largest garment exporter, also saw its supplies to the US decreasing by 1.69 percent year-on-year to $2.081 billion during the period under review.

Similarly, the US apparel imports from Indonesia and Mexico dropped by 4.79 percent year-on-year and 0.59 percent to $2.111 billion and $1.469 billion, respectively, during the five-month period.

Overall, the US apparel imports grew slightly by 2.12 percent to $30.753 billion in the first five months of 2014, compared to imports of $30.115 billion made during the corresponding period of last year.

Of the total apparel imports made by the US, cotton apparel accounted for $16.567 billion, whereas man-made fibre apparel contributed $12.526 billion, wool apparel $883.873 million, and clothing made from silk and vegetable fibres $775.073 million.

In January-May 2014, the US non-apparel imports increased by 3.06 percent to $10.199 billion, as against imports of $9.896 billion made during the same months of 2013.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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