Vietnam’s apparel shipments to the US rose seven per cent in February 2019 compared to February 2018. China continues to lose its footing as the major supplier of apparel to the US, and Mexico’s standing is on shaky ground, too.

Apparel goods coming from China to the US fell 2.9 per cent in February. Shipments reaching US ports from Bangladesh increased 13.6 per cent. Imports from India were up 6.3 per cent, from Pakistan it went up 14.8 per cent. US imports from Philippines rose six per cent; Sri Lanka 4.7 per cent. However, Indonesia’s shipments fell 1.2 per cent and from Mexico dropped 23.2 per cent in February. Imports from Honduras increased 14.12 per cent in value. Imports from the Dominican Republic rose 3.4 per cent. But they fell 6.69 per cent from El Salvador and 4.74 per cent from Guatemala. Apparel imports from Jordan jumped 21.61 per cent year over year in February, and shipments arriving from Egypt rose 13.2 per cent.

These developments came in a slow month for US apparel imports. Global shipments to the US fell 0.4 per cent in volume. For the year to date, imports were up 5.12 per cent in value compared to the same period in 2018, thanks to a surge in January.