US Outwear Imports Rise Four Percent This Year

US’ imports of men’s and boys’ outerwear increased 4.1 per cent in the first half of the year. An increase in men’s outerwear was responsible for most of the gain. China maintained its position as the largest exporter to the US for outerwear, increasing its share by 2.1 percentage points to 43.4 per cent of total outerwear imports in the first half of 2017. China is the largest source of both men’s and women’s outerwear in both the knit and woven fabrication segments.

Canada’s outerwear shipments to the US have skyrocketed this year, with dollar volumes up by 126 per cent and units ahead by 46 per cent. The average cost per garment of imported Canadian outerwear has increased by 54 per cent in the first half of 2017.

Indonesia, India and Bangladesh, also key suppliers to the US, gained import share in the period. Though the second largest source of outerwear in the first six months of 2017, at 18 per cent of the total, Vietnam lost 0.9 percentage points of share in the period, with the biggest decline in the women’s and girls’ categories. The first six months of the calendar year typically represent less than 30 per cent of annual outerwear imports.