American apparel imports declined in both value and volume during the first nine months of 2026, with China and India suffering steep losses while Vietnam and Cambodia demonstrated greater resilience.
US apparel imports declined 6.14% year on year to $56.68 billion during January–September 2026, reflecting weaker purchasing demand, elevated tariffs and continuing pressure on consumer spending.
According to the US Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA), import volumes fell 8.10%, measured in square metre equivalents, while average import unit values increased 2.14%.
The figures indicate that the contraction in physical garment shipments was considerably sharper than the decline in import spending.
China and India Record Steepest Declines
The impact varied significantly across major Asian sourcing countries.
China’s apparel shipments to the US declined 23.08%, while India’s fell 25.19%.
Bangladesh recorded a 4.57% decline to $6.14 billion, while Pakistan’s exports decreased 3.67%.
In contrast, Cambodia achieved 6.42% growth, Indonesia 2.81% and Vietnam 0.26%.
These differences reflect changing sourcing patterns, tariff exposure, product competitiveness and buyers’ efforts to diversify procurement.
Higher Prices Mask Weaker Volumes
Despite rising average US import unit values, prices declined for five of seven major Asian suppliers.
China experienced the steepest reduction at 7.66%, while Bangladesh’s average unit value fell 0.95%.
US consumer apparel prices increased 3.4% year on year in September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Higher retail prices and import duties are adding pressure to purchasing decisions, although import statistics alone cannot isolate their respective effects.
Exporters Face Tougher Competition
For textile and apparel manufacturers, declining US import volumes suggest greater competition for available orders and continued pressure on supplier margins.
Pakistan and Bangladesh face particular challenges in balancing competitive pricing with rising manufacturing and compliance costs.
Meanwhile, Southeast Asian suppliers are gaining relative ground.
The critical indicators for the final quarter are US holiday retail sales, apparel inventory levels and import order recovery. These will determine whether the contraction moderates or carries into 2027.
