The import of textiles and apparel by United States increased slightly by 1.27 per cent last year. The total value of imports stood at $105.992 billion, compared to imports valued at $104.665 billion in 2016. With 36.55 per cent share, China was the largest supplier of textiles and clothing to the US during the year, followed by Vietnam with 11.5 per cent.

Apparel constituted the bulk of the textiles and garments imports valued at $80.286 billion, while non-apparel imports accounted for the remaining $25.705 billion, according to the latest Major Shippers Report, released by the US department of commerce.

Segment-wise, among the top ten apparel suppliers to the US, only Vietnam, India, Mexico and Cambodia were able to increase their exports by 7.01 per cent, 1.19 per cent, 5.33 per cent and 0.32 per cent year-on-year, respectively. On the other hand, imports from Bangladesh registered a decline of 4.46 per cent compared to the same period of the previous year.

In the non-apparel category, among the top ten suppliers, China, Mexico, Turkey and Vietnam registered a double-digit growth of 10.45 per cent, 12.71 per cent, 15.79 per cent and 22.07 per cent year-on-year, respectively. Imports from Canada, Korea, and Taiwan dropped by 3.36 per cent, 3.28 per cent and 3.57 per cent to $700.941 million, $638.798 million and $449.063 million, respectively.

Of the total US textile and apparel imports of $105.992 billion during the period under review, cotton products were worth $45.796 billion, while man-made fibre products accounted for $54.486 billion, followed by $3.997 billion of wool products and $1.712 billion of products from silk and vegetable fibres.

In 2016, the US textile and apparel imports had declined by 6.44 per cent year-on-year to $104.722 billion, with apparel alone accounting for $80.713 billion. (RKS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

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