Apparel shipments from China to the US fell 9.1 per cent in 2019. This brought China’s import share of apparel down to 29.68 per cent in value terms for the year compared to 33 per cent in 2018. In volume, China’s apparel import share fell to 39.93 per cent in 2019 from 41.9 per cent the previous year. US imports from Vietnam gained 11.01 per cent in 2019.

This gave Vietnam a 16.18 per cent market share, rising from 14.75 per cent in 2018. Imports from Bangladesh increased 9.83 per cent for the year while India’s shipments rose 6.8 per cent. Imports from Cambodia jumped 11.29 per cent for the year and Pakistan’s shipments increased 7.11 per cent. US apparel imports from Mexico were down 6.49 per cent for the year.

The only other top apparel suppliers that notched a decline in imports were: Indonesia, down 1.68 per cent, and El Salvador, off 2.45 per cent. This came as US’ overall apparel imports fell 0.3 per cent in volume. In value, US apparel imports from the world increased 1.16 per cent.

Among secondary suppliers showing strength in 2019 were Jordan, Egypt, Kenya, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Haiti, Turkey and Myanmar.