The volume of US apparel imports from all sources edged up 0.2 per cent year-on-year in February, rebounding from a 4.2 per cent fall in January. While shipments from China, the largest supplier of apparel to the US, increased 2.1 per cent in February, those from nearest rival Vietnam fell 1.5 per cent compared to a year earlier.

Bangladesh saw apparel shipments increase 13.9 per cent, bouncing back from the 8.4 per cent decline recorded in January. India also booked double-digit growth. El Salvador and Pakistan saw apparel shipments grow 7.4 per cent and 4.8 per cent respectively. But there were significant declines from Indonesia, Honduras, Cambodia and Mexico.

China continues to remain a compelling source for apparel buyers as rising prices are largely being offset by productivity gains. Despite its February decline, Vietnam has benefited as both producers and buyers diversify their supply chains. The country’s apparel business is also being buoyed by the expected benefits of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade treaty with countries including Canada and the US.

India may also have benefited from orders diverted from China and Bangladesh during the month as well as the recovering US economy. Cambodia, however, continues to face criticism over working conditions in garment factories.