China is clothier for US in 2007, with $74 bn exports

BANGALORE: Asia���s factory, China, continues to lead the league tables accounting for nearly 31% of apparel imports by the US last year. In calendar 2007, the US imported a total of $73.9 billion worth of apparel with a clear and continued focus coming in from Asia, according to US customs data. In 2006, the US had apparel imports of $71.6 billion.

The data relates to only apparel imports into the US though in terms of total imports of apparel and textile, this figure stood at $96.4 billion in 2007 against $93.3 billion in the previous calendar year.

China saw its marketshare in the apparel segment rise from 25.9% in calendar 2006 to touch 30.77% while in absolute terms it was $22.74 ($18.51 billion).

India, which has seen its marketshare decline in real terms, had exports of $3.16 billion ($3.18 billion). In real terms, India���s exports had a marketshare of 4.3% in CY2007 compared to 4.4% in 2006.
In percentage terms, both Indonesia and Vietnam had higher marketshare in the apparel sector with 5.4% and 5.9% respectively, against India���s 4.3%.

In 2006, Indonesia and Vietnam had marketshare of 5.1% and 4.5% respectively.Interestingly enough, apparel exports from Pakistan rose to $1.5 billion in 2007 from $1.4 billion in 2006. In case of Sri Lanka, this was $1.6 billion. Turkey has seen a cooling off at $559.2 million in 2007 against $726.1 million.

Even Bangladesh has seen its apparel exports rise from $2.4 billion in 2005 to touch $3.1 billion in 2007, while marketshare has gone up from 3.5% in 2005 to 4.2% in 2007.

���Asia is gaining ground as a major supplier of apparel to the US ,��� Rajendra Hinduja, executive director of India���s largest apparel exporter, Gokaldas Exports, said.