Vietnam’s denim exports to the US has risen 16.1 per cent so far this year. Women’s jean exports from Vietnam to the US rose by almost 17 per cent. Although China held its share of total denim imports into the US, Mexico lost 200 basis points of share, while Bangladesh and Vietnam gained 150 and 80 basis points. Pakistan and Nicaragua also gained share, while Egypt lost.

China has maintained its 26.5 per cent share of US denim imports. Unit imports from China dropped by eight per cent, but the average cost per garment rose by four per cent. There was a seven percent increase in men’s jean imports from China but a nine per cent drop in women’s jeans imports.

Imports from Bangladesh, the US’s third largest source of denim apparel, increased by eight per cent, with units up 11.7 per cent and average cost down by more than three per cent, with women’s seeing most of the gains. More than 98 per cent of total denim apparel imports by the US are jeans. Men’s and boys’ are the largest segment, at 52 per cent of the total on a dollar basis, down 100 basis points from the prior year, while women’s and girls’ rose to more than 46 per cent of the total. Denim jackets, skirts, dresses and other garments represent less than two per cent of the total.