U.S. import pattern—spandex, textiles and apparels

In previous articles, the market share of US in China's export markets was examined. This article will focus on the import patterns of spandex, textiles and apparels in the U.S. Based on recent trend, China's market share in U.S. textile and apparel imports has been gradually declining since 2021, with a marked acceleration in the decline beginning in 2023. In contrast, supply shares from Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Cambodia have been gradually increasing.

Remark: The textile and apparel data involved in the article are summarized based on the US import tariff codes 50-63

Major Southeast Asian countries showed a slight year-on-year decrease in their values for 2023-2024. This reduction was primarily attributed to declining product prices rather than a decrease in demand. The number of countries outside of China contributing to U.S. imports has continued to increase.

By 2024, China's share of U.S. textile and apparel imports has dropped to 26%, while other countries, including Vietnam, India, Pakistan and Cambodia, have seen noticeable increases in their market shares.

In terms of U.S. imports, finished fabrics and apparels make up the majority, accounting for 96% of total imports, whereas the import of fibers and textiles used as intermediate production materials was quite limited.

It was learned that the U.S. textile and apparel consumption reached approximately $351 billion in 2024, with a high import dependency of 65-68%. Despite the gradual decrease in direct imports from China in recent years, China still holds a significant position as the world's largest producer of textile raw materials, fabrics and apparels. Consequently, its exports to markets like ASEAN play a crucial role in the upper tiers of the supply chain and represent an important part of indirect supply.

Judging from the direct data on imports of spandex and raw materials in the United States, such as the previous statistics of China's export data, the direct quantity was small.

Regarding U.S. imports of spandex and raw materials, data indicated a low volume of direct statistics from China. Import statistics were compiled with varying classification criteria. For example, the import volume of diols from China in 2024 was around 2,080 tons; however, this quantity largely did not come from BDO exports. Furthermore, over 80% of PTMEG imported from China, a primary form of polyether, consisted of other polyether products. As for the elastic fibers, most products fell under spandex, though the total volume remained small.