Trends in US Textile and Clothing Imports, 2009 Edition

US import prices rose for a third successive year in 2008, following several years of decline. The rise in 2008 was led by China. By contrast, there were falls in the average prices of imports from Vietnam and India—the USA’s second and third largest suppliers of textiles and apparel respectively. China strengthened its lead as the USA’s biggest supplier in 2008, in both value and volume terms. However, growth in imports from China slowed to just 1.1% in value terms—and in volume terms imports from China actually fell by 3.6%. Despite these developments, China’s share of the US import market grew slightly in 2008—from 33.5% to 35.1% in value terms and from 40.3% to 40.9% in volume. The fastest growing supplier, however, was Vietnam, and the country became the USA’s second largest supplier in terms of value. By contrast, exporters in Indonesia and Cambodia, two other members of Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), struggled to maintain their shares of the market. Similarly, in South Asia, US imports from India and Pakistan fell in value terms, although imports from Bangladesh increased by 11.1%. Imports from Mexico fell in both value and volume in 2008. The drop in value was the seventh in succession, while the volume fall was the fourth in a row. Countries which are signatories to the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) also supplied less in 2008, at least in value terms. However, imports from Honduras—the largest supplier in CAFTA-DR—fared well, having increased by 3.7% in value and 9.4% in volume.

Summary

Introduction

US Imports of Textiles and Clothing by Main Category: Yarns, Fabrics, Apparel and Made-Up Textiles

US Imports of Textiles and Clothing by Fibre Type

Major Suppliers of US Textile and Clothing Imports

US Textile and Clothing Import Prices

Supplier Concentration

Outlook for US Textile and Clothing Imports

US Imports of Men’s and Boys’ Cotton Coats

US Imports of Women’s and Girls’ Cotton Coats

US Imports of Women’s and Girls’ Wool Coats

US Imports of Cotton Dresses

US Imports of Men’s and Boys’ Cotton Knitted Shirts

US Imports of Women’s and Girls’ Cotton Knitted Shirts

US Imports of Men’s and Boys’ Cotton Non-Knitted (Woven) Shirts

US Imports of Women’s and Girls’ Cotton Non-Knitted (Woven) Shirts

US Imports of Cotton Skirts

US Imports of Man-Made Fibre Skirts

US Imports of Men’s and Boys’ Cotton Trousers

US Imports of Women’s and Girls’ Cotton Trousers

US Imports of Cotton and Man-Made Fibre Baby Garments

US Imports of Cotton Pile Towels

US Imports of Other Cotton Apparel

Appendix: Exchange Rates and the Phasing-Out of Quotas

Statistical Appendix

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Trends in US Textile and Clothing Imports, 2009 Edition

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