After surging with the end of quotas, US textile imports from China stabilized in the last three months. Shipments even fell in a large number of categories, mainly due to seasonal factors and a continued decline in US textile consumption.
US textile imports from China are showing no signs of further surging. After jumping in a large number of categories in the first post-quota months, shipments were stabilized at their current level.
Entries even fell in July for certain categories as reflected by our three tables below.
Blue denim sharply down
Imports of blue denim fabrics in category 225 declined from 1.45 million square meters down to 236,000 square meters, according to preliminary data.
Imports of combed cotton yarns fell from 495 tons in May down to 258 tons in June and 136 tons in July, constantly declining after a quota was imposed by the US administration in this sensitive category.
The new limit is very far from being filled as a consequence.
Imports of certain home textiles also decreased in July, such as cotton sheets (361) and bedspreads and quilts (362). The number of cotton pile towels entering the US soil also fell in category 363.
Surging poplins and twills
By contrast, a jump was observed in other categories such as 314 (poplin, broadcloth) with imports surging from 5.84 million square meters in June up to 7.26 million in July.
Twill fabric imports from China also rose substantially in July to 2.38 million square meters.
Compared with the overall January-July period, imports were slightly above the average level in July.
China's shares of the US import market did not really rise in July, as a result.
Compared with their level a year earlier, China shares surged, however, as a consequence of quotas' phasing-out on January 1.