Sourcing Journal reports on the deep dive in imports of denim from China, and on which countries are picking up the business. Arthur Friedman writes:
Imports from China declined a staggering 67.54 percent year to date through April to $74.3 million, bringing the once-dominant country down to a third-place, 15.55 percent market share after a 41.88 percent decline over the 12 months. Imports from China have been in a long-term downward spiral since the trade war with the U.S. brought on significant tariffs and uncertainty, and caused many companies to shift production out of the country.
Picking up some of the slack among the key suppliers were Bangladesh, with denim apparel imports rising 14.68 percent in value to $149.3 million year to date and market share increasing to 17.36 percent; Vietnam, up 20.26 percent in the period to $100.34 million and a market share jump to 11.18 percent, and Pakistan, rising 5.44 percent to $78.63 million. Smaller-scale gains were also posted by Cambodia, with a 76.98 percent increase to $47.85 million, and Sri Lanka, up 9.17 percent to $18.46 million.
Other countries with drop-offs in jeans imports to the U.S. in the period included Egypt, with a 12.62 percent decline to $40.63 million; Nicaragua, falling 20.35 percent to $25.78 million, and Indonesia, down 38.97 percent to $14.89 million.
Read more here.