Apparel imports into the US declined in January. Shipments fell from six of the top-10 supplier countries. But those further down the ranking -- Honduras and El Salvador -- recorded stand-out performances during the month. Total US apparel and textile imports dropped 5.6 per cent in January, with textiles down 6.7 per cent.

The volume of apparel imports from all sources fell 4.2 per cent year-on-year in January following a five per cent increase in December. As for individual supplier countries, there was a marked difference in the performance between the top two. Shipments from China, the largest supplier of apparel to the US, with a 42.5 per cent share of the market, declined 7.8 per cent in January. Those from nearest rival Vietnam saw a growth of 0.9 per cent compared to a year earlier.

Honduras, number five in the table, saw its apparel shipments grow 17.7 per cent. India and El Salvador booked year-on-year increases of 4.4 per cent and 10.7 per cent. Even so, China remains a compelling source for apparel buyers as rising prices are largely being offset by productivity gains. There is also the fact that no country can match China in terms of the size of its supply base, its range of skills, its quality levels, its product variety and the completeness of its supply chain.

Vietnam, meanwhile, continues to benefit as both producers and buyers diversify their supply chains.