US’ denim imports declined significantly in the first three months of the year. US companies imported 14.32 per cent less blue denim apparel – 97 per cent of which is jeans – for the year to date through February for a value of $497.08 million. The drop-off was led by a 63 per cent decline from China to $55.77 million, as factories shut down as COVID-19 swept through the country. Top denim supplier Mexico’s shipment to the US dropped 27.2 per cent in the first two months of the year to $91.98 million. Other suppliers among the top 10 that registered a decline in the period were: Indonesia, a decrease of 34.92 per cent to $9.17 million, and Nicaragua, with a falloff of 2.99 per cent to $13.85 million.
There were winners in denim import sourcing in the period, led by Bangladesh, with a 39.59 per cent increase to $90.13 million, and Vietnam, with a rise of 30.17 per cent to $65.25 million. This leapfrogged both countries over China in year-to-date jeans imports. Cambodia also posted a major gain in the period, with its shipments to the US skyrocketing 111.48 per cent to $29.15 million. Small gains were also posted by Pakistan, Egypt and Sri Lanka among the top suppliers in the period.