World textile and apparel trade and production trends: the USA, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico

摘要

US textile and clothing imports increased in value and volume terms in 2017 and growth is expected to accelerate in 2018. Coinciding with the growth in imports, US consumer expenditure on clothing and footwear continued to expand in 2017 and growth accelerated during the first three quarters of 2018. Textile production and clothing production declined in 2017 although textile and clothing exports rose in value terms after falling in the previous two years.In Argentina, textile and clothing exports declined in 2017 but they shot up during January-September 2018 compared with the corresponding period a year earlier. However, textile production was down in 2017, and it was down again during January-September 2018. Meanwhile, textile and clothing imports rose and retail sales surged in 2017 and during January-June 2018—although the surge in retail sales was attributable partly to substantial inflationary pressures.In Brazil, textile and clothing exports rose in 2017 after declining in the previous two years but they fell again during January-October 2018 compared with the corresponding period a year earlier. Similarly, textile and clothing production increased in 2017 but it was down during January-September 2018. Meanwhile, textile and clothing imports surged in 2017 and during January-October 2018, following sharp declines in 2015 and 2016.In Colombia, textile and clothing exports edged up in 2017 and were also up during January-October 2018 compared with the corresponding period a year earlier. At the same time, textile and clothing production declined in 2017 although it was up during January-September 2018.In Mexico, textile and clothing exports inched down in 2017 but they were up during January-September 2018 compared with the corresponding period a year earlier. Furthermore, textile and clothing production increased in 2017 while textile and clothing imports rose only marginally.