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US' textile & apparel import volume increases 2.5% in Jan-Sept

During the period, apparel imports edged up by *.** per cent to **,***.*** million SME, from **,***.*** million SME in January–September ****, indicating cautious restocking amid still-selective consumer demand. Imports of textiles (non-apparel) reached **,***.*** million SME in January–September ****, marking a stronger *.** per cent increase compared with **,***.*** million SME in the corresponding period of ****, supported by higher demand for home textiles, industrial fabrics, and intermediate inputs for downstream manufacturing.

The import volume of cotton products rose by *.** per cent to **,***.*** million SME during the review period, compared with **,***.*** million SME a year earlier, aided by stable cotton prices and steady demand for cotton-rich apparel and home products. Imports of man-made fibre (MMF) products climbed to **,***.*** million SME in January–September ****, up from **,***.*** million SME in the same period of ****, reflecting continued substitution towards MMF-based products due to their cost competitiveness, performance characteristics, and wider application across apparel and technical textiles.