According to the US Commerce Department, apparel goods coming from China were down nearly 7 per cent in the 12-month period ending October 31 to US $ 28.35 billion. In past years, China has accounted for as much as 40 per cent of all clothing brought into the US. However, only 35 per cent was imported into the country this year.
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Mexico, which for years was the second most popular source for apparel making for US labels, has also seen its share of production decline. During the review period, the country sent apparels worth US $ 3.3 billion, a 7 per cent drop over the previous year, making up 4 per cent of all US apparel imports.
The manufacturers have headed to lower-wage countries such as Vietnam, India and Bangladesh for more production during the one-year period. US apparel imports from Vietnam, in particular, grew by 3.7 per cent in the period under review to US $ 10.75 billion which accounted for 13 per cent of all apparel imports into the country.
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Bangladesh has also grown in importance when it comes to apparel manufacturing. During the period under review, Bangladesh sent US $ 5.3 billion worth of clothing to the US, making up about 6.5 per cent of total apparel imports.
Though India only exported US $ 3.65 billion-apparels to the US, but when factoring in fabric and other textiles, the total jumped to US $ 7.2 billion.
