American imports of blue jeans rose 7.83 per cent in 2018. Mexico’s shipments of blue jeans to the US grew 3.11 per cent in the year. Mexico has a 21.2 per cent share of the US market. US blue denim apparel imports from China rose 1.51 per cent in 2018. China has a 24.29 per cent share of the US market. Jeans imports from Bangladesh rose 11.73 per cent, giving the country a 14.68 per cent market share. Vietnam’s shipments jumped 43.02 per cent, giving Vietnam a 7.68 per cent market share. Imports from Pakistan were up 15.26 per cent, giving the country a 6.39 per cent market share. Cambodia’s shipments rose 20.5 per cent with a market share of 2.93 per cent.

African countries are slowly establishing themselves as a low-cost sourcing alternative. Egypt’s blue jeans shipments rose 6.06 per cent for the year, with a four per cent market share. Imports from Lesotho increased 5.57 per cent. Madagascar’s shipments were up 10.46 per cent and imports from Kenya jumped 50.57 per cent.

In the western hemisphere, where goods generally land in the US duty free under free trade agreements, imports from Nicaragua increased 14.19 per cent, Colombia’s shipments rose 33.92 per cent and imports from Guatemala were up 15.87 per cent.