United States recorded a significant decline in textile and apparel imports during the first quarter of the year, with total imports falling 12% year-on-year to $23.7 billion amid weak consumer demand and ongoing global economic uncertainty.
Industry data showed that reduced retail sales, cautious inventory management by brands and inflationary pressure contributed to the slowdown in import volumes across major sourcing markets.
The decline affected several leading apparel-exporting countries, including Bangladesh, China, Vietnam and India, as global buyers continued to adopt conservative sourcing strategies.
Analysts said the contraction reflects softer consumer spending patterns in the US market and increased pressure on retailers to control inventory levels following previous years’ overstocking challenges.
Despite the slowdown, industry observers expect demand to gradually recover in the second half of the year if inflation eases and consumer confidence improves in major Western markets.
