US textile and apparel imports maintained rapid growth in 2021

The latest data showed that US textile and apparel imports increased by 42.7% in Dec year-on-year, but down 0.6% month-on-month and 74.4% over the same period in 2019, indicating that the demand was still strong in Dec. However, the imports from China only rose by 4.4% year-on-year and 36.2% over the same period in 2019, but down 13% month-on-month. This showed that the growth rate of US textile and apparel imported from other regions was fast. US apparel imports increased by 33.6% in Dec year-on-year, up 0.2% month-on-month and 31.6% over the same period in 2019. The US apparel imports from China moved up by 39.6% year-on-year and 37% over the same period in 2019, but down 10.8% month-on-month.

Imports of US textile and apparel and US apparel decreased slightly in Dec month-on-month, but still maintained a sharp increase compared with the same period last year. US textile and apparel imports rose by 40% year-on-year in 2021, up 35.1% over 2019. In terms of import value, its import value moved up by 27% year-on-year, up 2.4% over 2019, so the import demand has recovered to the pre-Covid level. However, the Sino-US trade war and the COVID-19 pandemic have led to great changes in the source. Although China still stayed the largest supplier for the US market in Dec 2021, its proportion was declining rapidly.

There was a bottleneck in the growth of China's share in US textile and apparel before the outbreak of the pandemic, especially after the trade war between China and the United States after 2018. Subsequently, due to the pandemic, supply and demand problems occurred in various regions. In 2021, with the prevention and control of the epidemic and the increase in vaccination rate, consumption and production gradually recovered, and the imports from Turkey, EU and India increased rapidly. Their share has increased significantly. 

In conclusion, the import demand of US textile and apparel imports was strong in 2021. Job subsidies for employees in the United States promoted consumption. However, with the gradual elimination of subsidies and the approach of raising interest rates this year, it is expected that the US economy will also face some pressure. The period of rapid growth for US textile and apparel import demand may gradually pass, and it may gradually return to normal. Although the growth rate gradually declined, US textile and apparel mills are still switching sourcing orders.