Apparel / Textiles & Accessories

According to customs data, Japan's clothing imports in April were $1.8 billion, 6% higher than April 2022. The import volume from January to April this year was 4% higher than that of the same period in 2022.

In Japan's clothing imports, Vietnam's market share increased by 2%, while China's market share decreased by 7% compared with 2021. According to customs data, from January to April 2023, China was the largest clothing supplier to Japan, accounting for more than half of the total imports, accounting for 51%. During this period, Vietnam's supply was only 16%, while Bangladesh's and Cambodia's accounted for 6% and 5% respectively.

US apparel imports fall retail sales rise

In April 2023, the U.S. economy was in turmoil, many banks closed down, and the national debt was in crisis. Therefore, the clothing import volume in April was US $5.8 billion, 28% lower than that in April 2022. Customs data show that the import volume from January to April this year is 21% lower than that of the same period in 2022.

According to customs data, since 2021, China's share of the U.S. clothing import market has decreased by 5%, while India's market share has increased by 2%. In addition, the performance of the United States' clothing imports in April was slightly better than that in March, with China accounting for 18% and Vietnam accounting for 17%. The offshore procurement strategy of the United States is obvious, with other suppliers accounting for 42%. In May 2023, the monthly sales of clothing stores in the United States were estimated to be $18.5 billion, 1% higher than that in May 2022. According to customs data, from January to May this year, the retail sales of clothing in the United States were 4% higher than that in 2022. Furniture sales in the United States in May 2023 decreased by 9% compared with may 2022. In the first quarter of 2023, AOL clothing and accessories sales increased by 2% compared with the first quarter of 2022, and decreased by 32% compared with the fourth quarter of 2022.

The situation in Britain and the European Union is similar to that in the United States

In April, 2023, the import volume of British clothing was US $1.4 billion, down 22% from April, 2022. From January to April 2023, the import volume of British clothing decreased by 16% compared with the same period in 2022. Since 2021, China's share of British clothing imports has decreased by 5%, and China's market share is currently 17%. Like the United States, Britain is also expanding its scope of purchase, because the proportion of other countries has reached 47%.

The diversification of clothing imports in the European Union is lower than that in the United States and the United Kingdom, with other countries accounting for 30%, China and Bangladesh accounting for 24%, China's proportion decreased by 6%, and Bangladesh's proportion increased by 4%. Compared with April 2022, the EU's clothing imports in April 2023 decreased by 16% to US $6.3 billion. From January to April this year, EU clothing imports increased by 3% year on year.

In terms of e-commerce, in the first quarter of 2023, the online sales of European Union clothing increased by 13% compared with the same period of 2022. In April 2023, the monthly sales of British clothing stores were £ 3.6 billion, 9% higher than that in April 2022. According to customs data, from January to April this year, UK clothing sales were 13% higher than those in 2022.