Cotton trouser imports by the US dropped 11.65 per cent in volume terms in January 2020. The fall in value terms was roughly also by the same per cent. Bangladesh’s cotton trouser exports to the US grew by 9.92 per cent in value terms and by 3.69 per cent in volume terms. China’s export volume fell by 32.95 per cent and export value plunged by 47.69 per cent. China slid to third rank in the list, allowing Bangladesh and Vietnam to overtake it and become top two exporters of cotton trousers to the US. Cambodia also noted an unprecedented growth of 20.54 per cent amid a global slowdown caused by the coronavirus since January. As far as India’s export in the cotton trouser segment is concerned, the country failed to start 2020 on a positive note and slumped by 10.68 per cent.

American apparel imports in January 2020 fell 11.19 per cent in value and 10.72 per cent in volume. China’s apparel exports to the US fell 36 per cent. As China was the epicenter of the coronavirus, the country declared a lockdown in many provinces. This lockdown forced manufacturers to keep their factories closed. The New Year holidays also fell in January. Apparel shipments from Vietnam to the US increased 4.12 per cent.