US’ apparel imports from the Sub-Sahara African region grew by 32.54 per cent Y-o-Y to $258.03 during the January-February ’22 period. OTEXA stats reveals, imports from Ethiopia surpassed those from Kenya as the country emerged as the top African apparel exporter to the US market in the first two months’ period. The US imported apparels worth $68.05 million from Ethiopia during the January-February ’22 period, whereas it imports from Kenya totaled $65.10 million during the first two months of 2022.

Imports from Madagascar grew 42.87 per cent Y-o-Y to $51.62 million. Markedly, the country surpassed Lesotho – from where US buyers sourced $47.60 million worth of apparels in the mentioned period. A lot of movement is happening in the African manufacturing landscape, despite US’ sanctions on Ethiopia last year that led to the suspension of AGOA benefits for the country, adds the report.