US apparel imports edged down by 0.5 per cent in February compared to the same month last year. Apparel imports from Vietnam increased 0.5 per cent in the month, making it the number two source of US apparel imports and giving the country a 0.4 percentage point share gain so far this year to 12 per cent of total dollar imports.

Apparel imports from India were grew second fastest among all major trading partners in the first two months of the year, growing by 7.8 per cent, giving the country a half point share gain of US apparel imports. Apparel imports from India grew by almost 6 per cent in 2014.

Imports from Bangladesh gained 2.8 per cent, a nice swing from the 2.3 per cent decline in 2014. Indonesia’s apparel shipments to the US declined by more than 8 per cent in the first two months of 2015, resulting in a 0.4 per cent share loss, as the country tries to grapple with infrastructure deficiencies and labor issues.

Other countries among the top 10 to enjoy share gains include El Salvador, whose apparel shipments to the US grew by 13 per cent, and Honduras, up seven per cent compared to the same period last year.