Apparel imports decline as cotton, yarn & fabric exports rise
26 Jul '06
3 min read
US apparel imports (actual data) declined 3.0 percent to 8.1 billion SME worth $25.7 billion during January-May 2006 compared to January-May 2005 while US footwear imports (actual data) grew 4.3 percent to 1.1 billion pairs worth $7.5 billion.
US apparel imports from Central America and the Dominican Republic continued to decrease (-17.3 percent) during January-May, with its overall share of US apparel imports falling from 18.7 percent to 15.9 percent.
Likewise, US fabric exports to the region fell 13.1 percent during January-May 2006 versus January-May 2005. US yarn exports to CAFTA countries, however, recorded substantial growth during January-May 2006 (+28.1 percent).
US yarn (+61.1 percent) and fabric (+24.2 percent) exports to China continued to grow briskly, making it the 6th largest export market for US yarn and fabrics.
Likewise, US exports of cotton to China surged 267.7 percent to $1.4 billion during January-May 2006 versus January-May 2005, accounting for 55.6 percent of all US cotton exports and more than 1 out of every 3 bales of cotton produced in the United States.
US apparel imports from China fell noticeably during January-May 2006 (-12.6 percent to 1.8 billion SME worth US $5.1 billion), a result of the comprehensive quota arrangement implemented at the beginning of the year.
These quotas have so far had a negative effect on a broad range of products, particularly cotton trousers, cotton and manmade fiber underwear, manmade fiber socks, and women's and girls' cotton and manmade fiber knit shirts and blouses.
marketing@alchempro.com
