As per an OTEXA report, the global pandemic led to a 23.46 per cent decline in US’ apparel imports in 2020. The largest apparel supplier to the US, China noted a 39.16 per cent decline in its apparel shipments during the year. China’s market share declined to 23.65 per cent from 29.68 percent a year earlier and 33 per cent in 2018.

Shipments by other suppliers, Cambodia, Pakistan and Vietnam showed considerable growth during the past year and are likely to continue, along with Bangladesh, India and Indonesia, said Julia Hughes, President, United States Fashion Industry Association in a Sourcing Journal report.

Among the other top tier countries, Vietnam countered tariff threats by the Trump administration as did Cambodia whose apparel imports increased during the pandemic. While Vietnam’s shipments fell by 7.25 percent to $12.57 billion its market share rose to 19.62 from 16.18 percent in 2019. Imports from Bangladesh declined 11.73 per cent to $5.23 billion last year.

Cambodia was the only supplier whose shipments increased by 5.45 percent to $2.82 billion. Imports from Indonesia fell by 20.09 percent to $3.52 billion for the year, while India’s shipments declined by 25.58 percent to $3.02 billion and Pakistan’s dipped by 4.17 percent to $1.4 billion.