Total US imports of goods and services fell in December, but apparel and footwear posted increases, according to recent information released by the Department of Commerce.
Apparel imports increased 6.7% compared to December 2011, to $6.4 billion. On a 12-month smoothed basis, however, apparel imports declined by over one percent.
For the year 2012, total apparel imports fell by .4%. During the year apparel imports from Vietnam increased, while those from China, India and Pakistan fell.
Apparel exports fell by 1.8%, to $419 million. In 2012 there were significant increases in the total value of exports to Mexico, Canada, and Japan, but decreases to Honduras, the DR, and El Salvador. Total apparel exports rose 6.8% in 2012 compared to 2011.
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Footwear imports surged 21% in December compared to the year-ago month. China continues to gain significant footwear share, and grew to comprise over 72% of all footwear imports last year. Vietnam was next with a more than 10% share, followed at a distance by Italy, with a 5% share. Exports dropped 10% to $62 million. The biggest U.S. export markets for footwear are Canada, South Korea and the Caribbean basin.
| (US IMPORTS AND EXPORTS) | |||||
| In $ Millions | |||||
| International Trade Statistics |
% Chg |
2012 |
Dec |
Nov |
Dec |
|
vs LY |
vs 2011 |
2012 |
2012 |
2011 |
|
| Total US Imports |
-7.4 |
2.9 |
178,918 |
196,152 |
193,297 |
| Total US Exports |
3.1 |
4.4 |
131,805 |
131,555 |
127,862 |
| Total US Deficit |
-28.0 |
-0.3 |
47,113 |
64,597 |
65,435 |
| Apparel Imports |
6.7 |
-0.4 |
6,445 |
6,726 |
6,039 |
| Apparel Exports |
-1.8 |
6.8 |
419 |
474 |
427 |
| Footwear Imports |
21.0 |
5.4 |
1,871 |
1,643 |
1,546 |
| Footwear Exports |
-10.1 |
-1.0 |
62 |
73 |
69 |
