In the first three months of the year US imports of denim decreased significantly. For the year to date until February, US companies imported 14.32% less blue jeans – of which 97% are denim – at $497.08 million. The downturn was driven by China’s 63 percent drop to $55.77 million, with factories shut down as the nation swept COVID-19. In the first two months of the year Mexico’s largest Denim supplier has declining to US$ 91.98 million in shipments by 27.2%.
Certain suppliers in the top 10 that reported a decline in the era were: Indonesia, a decline of 34.92 percent to $9.17 million, and Nicaragua, a $13.85 million decline of 2.99 percent.
In the period there were winners in denim import sourcing, led by Bangladesh, with an increase of 39.59 per cent to $90.13 million, and Vietnam, with an increase of 30.17 per cent to $65.25 million. This leapfrogged both countries in year-to-date importations of jeans over China. Cambodia also reported a big gain in that time, with its exports to the US skyrocketing to $29.15 million from 111.48 per cent. Pakistan, Egypt and Sri Lanka also reported small gains among the top suppliers in the region.
