US imports of synthetic fibers is on the rise. Through September, man-made fiber apparel imports were almost 43 per cent of total apparel imports, a 9 per cent increase over the first nine months of 2013.

Of the man-made fiber apparel imports into the US, 42 per cent was from China, a 7.8 per cent increase over the same period last year. Vietnam was the second largest source, up 21.4 per cent from last year. Indonesia, Mexico and Honduras are the next largest sources of man-made apparel.

Men’s knit shirts of chiefly man-made fiber have grown by almost 15 per cent so far this year, representing the fastest growing of the key import categories. Women’s knit tops have increased by 7.6 per cent and dresses are up by 7.2 per cent. Cotton apparel categories that have seen big decline in dollar volume this year include: women’s and girls’ pants (11 per cent), women’s and girls’ knit tops, (4.6 per cent), cotton skirts (17 per cent), and bras and other foundations, down (26 per cent).

Initiatives put in place more than a year ago by retailers and brands to replace cotton with synthetics when cotton prices were high have been the driving force behind the shift. It remains to be seen, now that cotton prices have dropped significantly, whether the tide will turn. Polyester prices have been declining due to plummeting oil prices, which impacts synthetic fiber raw material costs.