The import of textiles and apparel by the United States continues to grow at high rate and rose by 29.61 per cent to $20.191 billion in the first two months of 2022, compared to $15.578 billion in the same period of 2021. With 27.76 per cent share China continues to be the largest supplier of textiles and clothing to the US, followed by Vietnam with 13.50 per cent share.

Apparel constituted the bulk of textiles and garments imports made by the US in January-February 2022, and were valued at $15.021 billion, while non-apparel imports accounted for $5.170 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 and Indonesia shot up by 61.06 per cent and 55.97 per cent year-on-year respectively. Imports from China, India, Bangladesh and Cambodia too grew between 44-50 per cent. On the other hand, imports from Honduras registered a growth of only 15.24 per cent compared to the same period of the previous year.

In the non-apparel category, among the top ten suppliers, imports from Cambodia soared by 64.62 per cent year-on-year. Imports from Italy and South Korea too climbed 33.08 per cent and 22.10 per cent respectively.

Of the total US textile and apparel imports of $20.191billion during the period under review, cotton products were worth $9.011 billion, while man-made fibre products accounted for $10.207 billion, followed by $473.648 million of wool products, and $499.986 million 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 compared to imports of $111.033 billion in 2019. But imports rebounded again in 2021 to surpass pre-pandemic level and ended at $113.938 billion.