Apparel Export shows 9.7% Decline in Dollar Terms in First Month of FY 2012-13

Apparel exports were to the tune of USD 1058.89 mn in the financial year 2012-13 with a decline of 9.7 per cent against the corresponding month of last financial year.In rupee terms, the exports have increased by 5.44 per cent in April 2012-13over the same month of previous FY. In April 2012-13, in rupee terms, apparel export of India were to tune of Rs 5486 crore compared to Rs 5203 crore in April 2011-12.

In the FY 2011-12, exports increased by 17.9 per cent from previous FY and summed 13699 mn in April March 2011-12.

Apparel Imports of US

Apparel imports of the United States witnessed an increase of 3.3 per cent in Jan-Mar2012 from the corresponding period of previous year and amounted to 18.1billion dollars. In the same period, US imports of apparel from India declined-by 5.2 per cent and reached to USD 933.6 mn against USD 984.5 mn in the previous year. US imports from China saw an increase of 2.7 per cent in Jan-March 2012over the corresponding period of last year and all the other major suppliers like Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Mexico also witnessed increase of 11per cent, 3.9 per cent, 6.5 per cent, and 7.1 per cent respectively. Among the top six suppliers, Vietnam registered maximum growth from the same period of previous year.

Apparel Imports of EU

Apparel import accounted for USD 15626mn for Jan-Feb 2012 with a decline of 2.8per cent over the same period of previous year. India's export to EU for the same period in 2012 amounted to USD 1099mn with a decline of 9.3 per cent. Forthe period of Jan-Feb 2012, highest increase in EUs import is registered by Turkey (16.1 per cent) while rest of the top suppliers have registered a decline in the EU import from same period of previous year.

(Source: U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Textile and Apparel)

In the month of February 2012 compared to the same month of last year, all top five suppliers registered decrease in the import of EU except for Turkey. Highest fall in import has been registered by Bangladesh followed by India.

EUs apparel import accounted for USD 94317mn in the year 2011 with an increase of 13.82 per cent over the previous year. Indias export to EU amounted to USD 6462 mn with increase of 15.45 per cent for the same period.

Source: GTIS, 2011

Apparel Imports of Canada

Canadas imports of apparel from India from January to December of 2011 accounted for USD 313.7mn with an increase of 14.2 per cent as compared to corresponding period of last year. Its total import of apparel for the period of Jan-Dec 2011 amounted to USD 8677.1 mn with an increase of 15 percent against Jan-Dec 2010.

China, Bangladesh, Cambodia, United States, Vietnam and India were the top suppliers of apparel to Canada. Among the top apparel suppliers, China, Bangladesh, Cambodia, United States, Vietnam and India saw an increase of 10, 32.9, 49.6, 5.9, 29.3 and 14.2 respectively in apparel exports to Canada from January to June 2011.

Canadas imports of apparel from India in 2011 accounted for USD 313.7mn with an increase of 14.2 per cent as compared to last year. Its total import of apparel from the world for 2011 amounted to USD 8677.1mn with an increase of 15.1 per cent in 2010.

(Source: ITC, 2011)

This article was originally published in Apparel India, magazine, May, 2012.