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Guatemala turns to US for apparel imports as China's lead narrows

28 Nov '25

3 min read

Guatemala turns to US for apparel imports as China's lead narrows

Pic: Shutterstock.com

Insights

Guatemala's apparel imports rose **34.78** per cent in Jan–Aug, driven by recovering demand and nearshoring. China remained the top supplier but lost market share due to freight volatility and rising costs. US expanded its share to **20.64** per cent, supported by CAFTA-DR and shorter lead times. Honduras, Bangladesh and El Salvador also gained from integrated regional supply chains and quicker delivery.

During January–August ****, Guatemala imported apparel worth $***.*** million, rising sharply from $***.*** million in the corresponding period of ****. China remained the largest supplier with $**.*** million, accounting for **.** per cent of the market, though its share slipped from **.** per cent a year earlier and remained well below the ** per cent peak recorded in ****, according to *fashion.com/market-intelligence/texpro-textile-and-apparel/" target="_blank">sourcing intelligence tool TexPro. China’s declining share reflects rising freight volatility, labour cost escalations, and growing preference for nearshore manufacturing.

The trade data shows that China has failed to regain its earlier dominance of a ** per cent market share last recorded in ****, while the United States has steadily expanded its position to more than ** per cent this year supported by regional trade advantages under CAFTA-DR and brands’ efforts to reduce over-dependence on Asia.