Textile and apparel imports into the United States saw another monthly decline in October, dropping 4.5% compared to September, according to data from the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA). However, a closer look reveals a more nuanced picture, with annual comparisons showing both gains and losses across different segments and source countries.

Overall Imports:

• While down from September, October imports were 2.8% higher than a year ago, totaling 8.03 billion square meter equivalents (SME).

• This discrepancy is driven by diverging trends within textiles and apparel:

• Textile imports edged up 0.1% for the month and a healthy 7.2% year-over-year, reaching 6.0 billion SME.

• Apparel imports, however, fell sharply, down 14.3% from September and 8.3% from the previous year, at 2.03 billion SME.

Year-to-Date and Ending-Year Trends:

• The year-to-date picture continues to paint a negative landscape, with total imports down 15.0% compared to the same period in 2022, at 78.9 billion SME.

• Similar disparities persist within textiles and apparel:Textile imports are down 11.2%, while apparel imports have taken a steeper 23.8% hit.

• The year ending in October shows an even sharper decline, with total imports down 17.0% to 91.9 million SME. Textiles see a 14.0% drop, while apparel's decline widens to 24.3%.

Source Country Spotlight:

• China remains the top source, though imports dipped 8.0% from September and are still down 19.6% year-over-year.

• India saw a surprising 11.0% monthly increase but remains down 9.7% annually.

• Vietnam and Turkey experienced moderate monthly declines but face larger annual setbacks of 16.5% and 3.1%, respectively.

• Interestingly, both Malaysia and Mexico posted significant monthly gains, with Malaysia imports surging 97.6% and Mexico jumping 32.8%. Egypt also saw a notable monthly spike of 177.7%.

Changing landscape of USA imports

These statistics reveal a complex and evolving textile and apparel import landscape. While the overall monthly decline suggests ongoing market headwinds, the annual and source-country data indicate pockets of resilience and even growth. The continued strength of textile imports compared to apparel suggests a potential shift in consumer preferences or supply chain dynamics. The strong showing of some source countries like Malaysia and Mexico further highlights the diversification of import patterns.