The United States textile and apparel market experienced a significant correction during the first half of 2026. According to the latest international trade data from the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) under the US Department of Commerce, textile and apparel imports dropped by 7.12 percent to 47.670 billion dollars during the January–June 2026 period, down from 51.326 billion dollars in the same period a year earlier.

This decline highlights mounting pressure on the purchasing capacity of US buyers. Apparel imports, the dominant product category, softened by 7.71 percent, falling to 35.087 billion dollars from 38.020 billion dollars. Meanwhile, the non-apparel segment also recorded a decline of 5.43 percent, with imports settling at 12.583 billion dollars.

Amid this downturn, Vietnam maintained its position as the top supplier, capturing an 18.62 percent share of the US import market by value, followed by China at 14.80 percent. The reduction in imports from six of the top ten suppliers reflects a broader cooling in demand, although several smaller nations have benefited from the ongoing trend of shifting and diversifying sourcing bases to mitigate geopolitical risks.

In the apparel segment, shipments saw growth from Cambodia, which rose by 12.61 percent, Italy by 8.07 percent, Indonesia by 3.67 percent, and Vietnam by 1.33 percent. Conversely, shipments from major suppliers faced sharp declines: China plunged by 37.65 percent, India by 25.19 percent, Bangladesh by 5.58 percent, Mexico by 10.06 percent, and Pakistan by 3.26 percent.

A similar realignment occurred within the non-apparel segment. Imports saw significant jumps from Vietnam at 19.21 percent, Italy at 16.94 percent, Cambodia at 6.52 percent, South Korea at 3.20 percent, Indonesia at 2.73 percent, Pakistan at 0.33 percent, and Turkiye at 7.83 percent. In contrast, shipments from China, India, and Mexico declined by 17.18 percent, 21.11 percent, and 0.78 percent, respectively.

Regarding product categories, man-made fibre products dominated the market with 24.141 billion dollars, supported by cost advantages and consistent availability. Cotton-based products followed with 20.111 billion dollars, while wool textiles reached 1.633 billion dollars, and silk and vegetable fibre products totaled 1.784 billion dollars.

The performance in the first half of 2026 follows a historical trend of volatility, where US imports declined by 3.34 percent in 2025, following a modest 2.66 percent growth in 2024. This latest data suggests that US importers continue to prioritize supply chain flexibility and geographical diversification in response to shifting global economic conditions.