U.S. textile and apparel trade in calendar year 2006 built upon its expansion seen in 2005, the first year without the Multifiber Arrangement (MFA) quotas.
In 2006, fiber product imports reached 19.7 billion raw-fiber-equivalent pounds—a record—while exports declined to nearly 4.7 billion pounds, the lowest since 1999. Consequently, net fiber product imports reached a record of 15 billion pounds, 7 percent above 2005.
Cotton products continued to account for the largest share by fiber of net textile trade in 2006, contributing nearly 58 percent of the total. Textile trade liberalization has led to higher U.S. product imports and lower mill use.
In 2006, U.S. cotton textile and apparel imports rose for the 18th consecutive year to nearly 11 billion pounds. Meanwhile, textile exports declined slightly as mill use fell nearly 14 percent from 2005.
Exports of cotton yarn, thread, and fabric remain vital, however, as they accounted for nearly 79 percent of total U.S. cotton product exports in 2006.
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United States Department of Agriculture
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