One of the leading importers of apparels goods in the world, the US’ import knitted apparels however, fell from $48 million in 2019 to $38 million in 2020 due to the pandemic. US’ imports from China declined to $9million during 2020 from $14 million in 2019. One reason for this was the ban imposed by US on imports from China, says a Textile Value Chain report. However, despite the decline, China continued to dominate US’ apparel imports with a global share of 24.44 per cent. Vietnam was the second largest exporter of knitted apparels with exports worth $7 million in both the years with 19.38 per cent global share.

Knitted apparels imports expected to rise soon

US imports of knitted apparels from India declined from $2 million in 2019 to $1.5 million in 2020. The country had a 4.03 per cent share in global exports of knitted apparels to the US in 2019 and 2020. Apart from the top 10 countries, imports of knitted apparels from the rest of the world was $23.74 per cent which was less than China’s total share. Bangladesh share in US imports of knitted apparels was 4.39 per cent amounting to $1.6 million in both years. Though US imports of knitted apparels dropped during 2020, it is eventually expected rise with the pandemic under control.

China also dominated US imports of woven apparels in 2019 and 2020. In 2019, US imported woven apparels worth $12 million from China which declined to $10 million in 2020. The country’s imports from China amounted to 30.96 per cent of its total global imports of woven apparels.

Vietnam was the second largest exporter of woven apparels to the US with 17.51 per cent share and exports totaling $5 million each in both years. The third largest exporter was Bangladesh with imports worth $4 million and $3 million in 2019 and 2020, respectively. On the other hand, US imported woven apparels worth $2 million from Indonesia in 2019 and $1 million in 2020. The country’s share in US’ total imports was 5.22 per cent. India’s export to US mirrored Indonesia’s with exports of woven apparels worth $2 million in 2019 and $1 million in 2020, respectively.

Robust yarn making capacity boosts Bangladesh garment exports

In 2019, US’ apparel imports from El Salvador, Indonesia and Mexico declined but its imports from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Honduras, India, and Vietnam increased. In the first five months of 2020, US’ imports from Bangladesh amounted to 9.40 per cent of its total global exports, despite COVID-19 and the US-China trade war.

The country’s robust yarn making capacity helped boost garment exports. However, the country also lost garment orders worth $3.2 billion due to pandemic, reveals Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). Manufacturers have currently requested upto 180 to 210 days to finish their orders.