US imports of denim decreased significantly in the first three months of the year. For the year until February, US companies imported 14.32 per cent less blue jeans – of which 97 per cent are denim – at $497.08 million. The downturn was driven by China’s 63 percent drop to $55.77 million, with factories shut down as the nation swept COVID-19. In the first two months of the year, the shipments of Mexico’s largest denim supplier declined by 27.2 per cent to $ 91.98 million.

Certain suppliers in the top 10 that reported a decline in the era included Indonesia with a decline of 34.92 percent to $9.17 million and Nicaragua with decline of 2.99 percent to $13.85 million. In the period there were winners in denim import sourcing, led by Bangladesh, with an increase of 39.59 per cent to $90.13 million, and Vietnam, with an increase of 30.17 per cent to $65.25 million. This leapfrogged both countries in year-to-date importations of jeans over China. Cambodia also reported a big gain in that time, with its exports to the US skyrocketing to $29.15 million from 111.48 per cent. Pakistan, Egypt and Sri Lanka also reported small gains among the top suppliers in the region.