Trends in US textile and clothing imports, March-April 2005

71 pages, published in Issue 116, March-April 2005   Report price: Euro 690.00; US$ 910.00

US imports of textiles and clothing covered by the former Multi-Fibre Arrangement (MFA) continued to surge in 2004, rising by 10.4% to 46.6 bn sme (square metres equivalent). Within this total, imports of made-up textiles soared by 22.7% and their share of all imports increased to 30.5%. But apparel continued to hold the highest share, at 42.1%, reflecting strong US demand for cheap clothing. Cotton dominates US imports of MFA clothing. However, its share of imports of all MFA products fell from 43.6% to 40.1%, while that of man-made fibre apparel rose from 53.2% to 56.6%.

China has strengthened its lead as the biggest supplier, in value and in volume. Imports from the country have surged since it joined the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in late 2001. In 2002 they rose in volume by 124.5%, in 2003 by 67.0% and in 2004 by 40.7%. US imports from Mexico, the second biggest supplier, rose in volume by 4.1% but falling prices meant that imports declined by 2.1% in value terms. Imports from Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) countries were also sluggish. Among Asean countries, imports from Indonesia grew by over 10% in value and volume. Imports from the Asian ?big three??Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan?rose by 0.9% in value and by 2.8% in volume. Imports from South Korea alone increased in volume by 9.7% as the average price of imports from the country fell significantly. Downward price pressure was also evident in imports from China, Mexico, and India. Falling prices is one of the outcomes of the gradual phasing out of quotas, which was completed in 2004.

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