Imports of Textiles and Apparel Were Worth US$ 96.981,Registering an Increase of 3.7%

The imports of textiles and apparel by the United States were worth US$ 96.981 billion during January to November 2013, registering an increase of 3.7 percent over $ 93.518 billion imports made during the corresponding period of 2012, according to the latest Major Shippers Report, released by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

During the 11-month period, China accounted for 39.85 percent share of all textiles and garments imported by the US. Vietnam, India and Indonesia recorded 8.31 percent, 5.97 percent and 5.07 percent share respectively in US textile and clothing imports.

Bangladesh and Mexico followed closely with 4.88 percent and 4.42 percent share, respectively, in all US textile and garment imports during the period under review.

Category-wise, apparel imports accounted for $74.009 billion, while non-apparel imports were worth $22.972 billion.

From January to November 2013, the US apparel imports from Vietnam increased by a sharp 14.07 percent to $7.497 billion, as against imports worth $6.573 billion made during the same period in 2012.

Similarly, the US garment imports from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka jumped by 11.18 percent year-on-year and 11.55 percent to $4.652 billion and $1.512 billion, respectively, the data showed.

Some other nations whose clothing exports to the US grew in double digits were Haiti, Kenya, Portugal, Morocco, Bahrain and Tanzania.

Among non-apparel imports, cotton products were worth $47.776 billion, while man-made fibre (MMF) products were worth $43.194 billion. Wool products cost $4.419 billion and silk and vegetable fibre products accounted for $1.59 billion.

Both in 2011 and 2012, the US textiles and clothing imports crossed the $100 billion-mark and seeing the trend it seems that the country is likely to surpass the 100 billion-mark in 2013 also.