The aftershocks of Donald Trump’s tariff threat against the world – especially China – issued in the first week of April 2025 are now reverberating through the US apparel import data.
Just a month later, in May 2025, China’s apparel shipments to the USA collapsed at an unprecedented scale – with values falling 51.70 per cent and volumes declining 48.39 per cent year-on-year, as per Apparel Resources’ analysis of OTEXA data.
This dramatic drop pushed China from the top exporter spot to third place, behind Vietnam and Bangladesh, indicating a seismic shift in sourcing strategy among US retailers.
The timing of this collapse is no coincidence. Though May is typically a low season for apparel imports due to the lull between spring collections and back-to-school planning, the magnitude of China’s decline far exceeds seasonal norms.
In May 2024, China had exported US $ 1.10 billion worth of apparel to the US. By May 2025, this figure had nosedived to just US $ 535.67 million, as buyers scrambled to diversify sourcing away from the looming threat of new trade barriers.
The overall US apparel import value in May 2025 stood at US $ 5.48 billion, down nearly 24 per cent from January’s US $ 7.21 billion – making it the weakest import month of the year.
While macroeconomic caution and inventory recalibration contributed to the slump, it is the sharp fall in Chinese shipments that triggered this disruption.
Vietnam emerged as the biggest beneficiary, growing its US apparel exports by 17.54 per cent in value, reaching US $ 1.20 billion and capturing 21.96 per cent of the total market.
Bangladesh, despite a slight dip in numbers, overtook China (9.76% market share) to claim second place in May ’25 with a 9.98% share.
Even India and Indonesia registered positive growth, with India inching up 3.86 per cent in value (US $ 440.35 million) and Indonesia growing 2.68 per cent to US $ 268.42 million.
From 1st August 2025, Trump’s sweeping tariff policy will further reshape global apparel trade with the USA. A uniform 10% baseline tariff will apply to most countries unless they secure exemptions via trade deals. China, already under heavy scrutiny, faces a conditional 55% tariff, likely worsening its already declining share in US apparel imports.
