The import of textiles and apparel by the US in 2021 is all set to surpass 2019’s pre-pandemic figure of $110.033 billion. In the first eleven months of last year, US imports have risen by 26.16 per cent to $103.789 billion, compared to $82.270 billion in January-November 2020, according to latest Major Shippers Report of US department of commerce.
With 27.83 per cent share, China continues to be the largest supplier of textiles and clothing to the United States, followed by Vietnam with 13.60 per cent share.
Apparel constituted the bulk of textiles and garments imports made by the US during the initial eleven months of last year, and were valued at $74.289 billion, while non-apparel imports accounted for the remaining $29.500 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, imports from Pakistan, Honduras and Nicaragua shot up by 59.30 per cent, 47.10 per cent and 42.90 per cent year-on-year respectively. Surprisingly, imports from Vietnam registered a growth of only 12.73 per cent compared to the same period of the previous year.
In the non-apparel category, among the top ten suppliers, imports from Italy, India, and Turkey soared by 55.75 per cent, 51.86 per cent and 40.27 per cent, respectively. The sharp rise in numbers is due to the base effect, as imports were disrupted last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Of the total US textile and apparel imports of $103.789 billion during the period under review, cotton products were worth $44.799 billion, while man-made fibre products accounted for $53.977 billion, followed by $3.144 billion of wool products, and $1.867 billion of products from silk and vegetable fibres.
In 2020, the US textile and apparel imports had decreased sharply, mainly on account of the COVID-19 pandemic induced disruption, to $89.596 billion.
