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Weak demand drags US textiles & apparel exports down 3.6% in Jan–Sept

15 Dec '25

3 min read

Weak demand drags US textiles & apparel exports down 3.6% in Jan–Sept

Pic: Shutterstock.com

Insights

US textile and apparel exports fell ***.*% to $**.* billion in January–September 2025, reflecting weaker global demand, rising price competition from Asian suppliers and softer sourcing by regional partners.
Shipments declined sharply to Mexico, CAFTA-DR markets and China, while limited growth in Europe and Japan was driven by technical textiles and supplier diversification.

Shipments to major markets including Mexico, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Canada, the United Kingdom, and China contracted, with declines of up to **.** per cent. Exports to Mexico fell *.** per cent to $*,***.*** million, signalling slower manufacturing activity in its export-oriented apparel sector, which relies heavily on US yarns and fabrics. Weakness in Honduras and the Dominican Republic similarly mirrors subdued orders from US brands, weighing on regional supply chains linked through CAFTA-DR as brands rebalance inventories and sourcing volumes.

By contrast, exports to the Netherlands, Japan, and Belgium rose by as much as **.** per cent. These gains were supported by steadier demand for technical textiles and niche fabrics, as well as sourcing adjustments by European manufacturers seeking to diversify material suppliers and reduce overdependence on a limited number of Asian inputs.