US apparel imports continued to grow in October. Three of the top 10 supplier countries: Vietnam, Honduras and India saw strong double digit growth, but Bangladesh tumbled for eighth month in a row. Apparel imports from all sources were up 6.8 per cent. Imports from China was the highest. It was four times as large as the second largest exporter to the US, Vietnam.

While the two largest apparel suppliers to the US continue on their upward trajectory, the picture is less positive for Bangladesh, which is at number three in the top 10 league. Imports from the country, which have been hit by a number of issues surrounding worker and factory safety in the last year, declined 15.8 per cent in October, deeper than September’s 11 per cent drop.

It also represents the eighth consecutive month of decline this year for Bangladesh, having started its fall in February, dropping 10.2 per cent. When it comes to imports from the US' other largest suppliers, year-on-year gains were during October was by Honduras, up 19.8 per cent, India up 19.4 per cent, and Mexico up 4.8 per cent. Indonesia, which rebounded in September, continued to grow with a 5.3 per cent gain.