U.S. net textile and apparel trade experienced a decrease in calendar year 2008 after expanding for more than a decade. Total fiber product imports reached only 18.5 billion raw-fiber-equivalent pounds in 2008, the lowest in four years.
Fiber product exports continued to trend lower to about 4 billion pounds, the lowest in 12 years. As a result of the import drop in 2008, net trade in fiber products declined for the first time since 1996 and, at 14.5 billion pounds, was 7 percent below 2007.
Cotton continued to account for the largest share of net imports in 2008. Net imports of cotton products contributed 58 percent, manmade fibers accounted for 35 percent, and the remaining share was made up of linen, wool, and silk products.
In 2008, U.S. net trade of cotton and manmade textile and apparel shared the brunt of the decrease; cotton products fell 7 percent in 2008, while trade in manmade products dropped 9 percent. Net trade for the other fiber products was only marginally lower than in 2007.