U.S. Cotton Apparel Imports in 2005

China, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Indonesia Takes the Lead  

The U.S. imported 41.142 billion U.S. dollars worth of cotton apparel in 2005; this represented 10.01 percent growth in value terms.  In quantity terms, the volume expanded 13.9 percent to 12.798 billion square meter equivalents.  This was a record, and the import growth was up sharply from only 2.7 percent in 2004 and 13.9 percent in 2005.  A clear pattern appears to have developed regarding retailers preference to source cotton apparel. 

Despite the mid-year imposition of safeguard quotas on many key products, U.S. imports of cotton apparel from China expanded 130 percent to 2.544 billion square meter equivalents.   

Despite duty-free access, the CAFTA/NAFTA region lost significant market share.  In many cases, the wide array of obligations placed on these trade deals by the U.S. textile interests have significantly rendered them ineffective.  Mexico actually fell to be the third largest supplier of cotton apparel for the first time and may soon fall behind Bangladesh.

U.S. retailers like Bangladesh for cotton apparel.  With labor rates below China, its less-developed status and access to duty-free cotton, Bangladesh has carved out a significant market share.  U.S. imports of cotton apparel from Bangladesh reached 1.684 billion U.S. dollars in 2005.  Its products remain the cheaper, less valued items.  In quantity terms, Bangladesh shipped 743.9 million square meter equivalents of cotton apparel to the U.S.  This compared to Mexico's 897.2 million square meter equivalents; however, in value terms, Mexico's shipments were worth 3.987 billion U.S. dollars. 

India exported 2.306 billion U.S. dollars of cotton apparel to the U.S. market, representing 43 percent year-on-year growth.  In volume, exports reached 614.2 million square meter equivalents.   

Pakistan was the seventh largest supplier to the U.S. in volume, with shipments of 509.0 million square meter equivalents; however, the value of these shipments were only 1.182 billion U.S. dollars, which reduced it to the twelfth largest supplier. 

The big story of 2005 was the emergence of Indonesia as a top supplier of cotton apparel.  In value terms, Indonesia was the seventh largest supplier, shipping 1.545 billion U.S. dollars worth of cotton apparel to the U.S. market, representing a 47 percent year-on-year increase.  In quantity terms, Indonesia was the tenth largest supplier, with shipments increasing 49.5 percent to 402.5 square meter equivalents. 

Another country that did not make the top suppliers in either quantity nor value measurements but gained significant momentum with retailers was the Philippines.  Cotton apparel exports to the U.S. in 2005 reached 1.182 billion U.S. dollars, a gain of 15.56 percent, it was the fourteenth largest supplier, increasing shipments 16.1 percent to 321.9 million square meter equivalents.  

Malaysia managed to maintain its share as the 23rd supplier and with a 7.8 percent gain for 2005 compared with the previous year.

US:  Top 25 Suppliers of Cotton Apparel Product Imports

Source

  

 

 

 

 

%

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Chg

 

 

World

8,873.0

9,841.3

10,934.5

11,233.6

12,798.1

13.9

China

342.8

653.2

948.3

1,106.3

2,544.3

130.0

Honduras

722.2

782.6

872.0

905.9

927.4

2.4

Mexico

1,145.0

1,123.1

1,021.6

983.6

897.2

-8.8

Bangladesh

602.0

577.2

548.2

550.4

743.9

35.2

El Salvador

516.5

579.9

664.1

654.3

631.5

-3.5

India

250.1

338.8

351.0

430.8

614.2

42.6

Pakistan

290.3

318.4

368.9

439.1

509.0

15.9

Dominican Rep

431.8

463.4

473.6

485.2

485.6

0.1

Cambodia

222.7

279.1

358.1

395.2

419.2

6.1

Indonesia

250.2

247.9

263.4

269.1

402.5

49.5

Hong Kong

474.6

452.6

410.1

413.6

387.0

-6.4

Vietnam

20.5

155.6

421.6

345.2

374.4

8.5

Thailand

240.55

272.4

279.6

291.0

326.8

12.3

Philippines

263.1

285.7

281.1

277.3

321.9

16.1

Guatemala

221.6

260.1

294.6

339.2

317.1

-6.5

Sri Lanka

192.5

191.6

189.6

225.8

276.9

22.6

Costa Rica

273.6

289.3

285.0

271.6

263.7

-2.9

Turkey

273.9

299.8

321.9

255.7

186.8

-27.0

Macau

125.5

133.1

149.0

183.7

180.9

-1.5

Nicaragua

77.2

91.0

113.9

131.4

164.5

25.3

Korea, South

151.1

166.6

160.8

167.3

161.6

-3.4

Jordan

28.0

52.3

77.1

144.9

160.6

10.9

Malaysia

105.7

117.9

123.0

136.6

147.2

7.8

Haiti

72.3

67.1

86.3

105.3

133.0

26.3

Egypt

101.9

107.8

121.5

128.6

125.2

-2.7

Other

1,477.0

1,534.8

1,750.0

1,596.3

1,095.5

-31.4

Unit : in Million Square Meters

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