US imports of textiles and clothing have been declining in value terms

US imports of textiles and clothing have been declining in value terms; in the first two months of 2023, they fell by 13.01 percent to US $ 17.554 billion from US $ 20.179 billion in the corresponding period of 2022. With a 24 per cent market share, China continues to be the US’s top supplier of textiles and apparel. Vietnam comes in second with a 14.97 per cent share.

In January-February 2023, the bulk of US textile imports comprised apparel, amounting to US $ 13.215 billion, while non-apparel imports accounted for US $ 4.339 billion, according to the latest Major Shippers Report released by the US Department of Commerce. Both segments experienced a decline in inbound shipments. Apparel imports dropped by 11.86 per cent compared to the US $ 14.994 billion traded in January-February 2022, while non-apparel imports fell by 16.31 per cent from US $ 5.185 billion in the same period of the previous year.