The imports of textiles and apparel by the United States increased by 2.73 percent year-on-year to $ 48.514 billion during the first six months of the current year, according to the Major Shippers Report, released by the U.S. Department of Customs.

 

China remained at the top spot accounting for $ 17.909 billion worth of total textile and garment imports made by the US from January to June 2013.

 

Vietnam and India took the second and third spots, respectively, with $ 4.06 billion and $ 3.206 billion worth of textile and apparel exports to the US, during the six-month period.

 

In apparel sub-sector, US imported $ 36.451 billion worth of clothing during the period under review, showing a rise of 3.17 percent year-on-year.

 

While China accounted for $ 12.324 billion worth of garments imported by the US during the period, Vietnam and Bangladesh witnessed a sharp rise in their apparel exports to the US.

 

Vietnam’s clothing exports to the US surged by 12.54 percent year-on-year to $ 3.712 billion during the first half, while Bangladesh’s garment exports to the US jumped 7.7 percent year-on-year to $ 2.489 billion.

 

In non-apparel category, India took the second spot after China by exporting $ 1.485 billion worth of textiles to the US during the six-month period, registering a rise of 5.7 percent year-on-year.

 

Vietnam’s non-apparel exports to the US shot up by 24.93 percent year-on-year to $ 347 million from January to June 2013.

 

In 2012, the US imported $ 100.931 billion worth of textiles and apparel, with China alone accounting for 40 percent of the same.

 

Mexico, Honduras and El Salvador are the only countries outside Asia, among the top ten textile and apparel exporters to the US.