India's share has been slowly and steadily increasing in total textile (non-apparel) and apparel imports made by the US in recent years.
In 2012, the US imported $2.854 billion worth of textiles from India, which accounted for 11.83 percent of the overall $24.120 billion textiles imported by the US, according to the data from the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA), U.S. Department of Commerce.
Last year, the US’ total textile imports were valued at $24.927 billion, of which, India contributed $3.087 billion or 12.38 percent.
In the year ending July 2014, India’s share in the US’ overall non-apparel (textile) imports increased further to 12.70 percent with the US importing $3.220 billion worth of goods from India, while the US’ total imports stood at $25.358 billion.
Similarly, India’s share in US’ overall apparel imports has also been growing at a slower pace. In 2012, India had a 3.96 percent share as it exported $3.041 billion worth of clothing to the US, whose total imports stood at $76.811 billion.
In 2013, India’s share marginally increased to 4.02 percent and it accounted for $3.0211 billion of the overall $79.797 billion worth of garments imported by the US.
India’s share in US apparel imports further increased to 4.12 percent in the year ending July 2014, with India contributing $3.327 billion to US’ total imports of $80.778 billion.
India’s share in US textile and apparel imports is likely to increase further in the coming years due to investor-friendly and export-oriented policies put in place by the Indian Government. The inclusion of the textile and garment indusry in the ‘Make in India’ campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday is expected to boost the Indian textile and clothing industry.
