The decline of the textile industry is overstated, the US textile industry is one of the most important contributors to the nation’s manufacturing sector. Today, the value of American-made fiber and filament, textile, and apparel shipments totaled an estimated $76 billion, making it one of the world’s leading manufacturers of textile products, including textile raw materials, yarns, fabrics, apparel and domestic furnishings, and other textile products.
US Textile Industry Statistics
The US textile industry is also highly competitive on a global scale; according to the NCTO (National Council of Textile Organizations), the textile industry in the USA currently ranks as the 4th largest textile exporter in the world, behind China, India, and Germany. The exports of US textile products increased 38%, reaching almost $27.8 billion in 2015. In particularly, fiber, yarns, and fabrics are some of the largest segments in the US’ textile exports – with an export value of those products totaled $21.6 billion alone in 2015. The free trade agreement partner countries are also some of the biggest export markets for the US, representing over 70% of total U.S. textile exports in 2015. Here are some interesting facts about the textile industry in the USA.
Key Figures and Facts About the US Textile Industry
1. The US textile industry supply chain was estimated to employ over 579,000 workers in 2015.
2. The US textile and apparel shipments reached total $76 billion in 2015.
3. The US currently is the world’s fourth-largest textile exporter. Fiber, textile, and apparel were among the most exported products with a combined worth of $27.8 billion in 2015. Meanwhile, the US imported nearly $88 billion worth of appeals in the same year.
4. Over 70% of US textile exports went to Western Hemisphere free trade partners in 2015. 29 countries imported over $100 million worth of textile products from the US.
5. The US textile industry supplies more than 8,000 different textile products to the U.S. military.
6. The US is the world leader in textile research and development, with the U.S. textile complex developing next generation textile materials such as conductive fabric with antistatic properties, electronic textiles that can monitor heart rate and other vital signs, antimicrobial fibers, lifesaving body armor, and new fabrics that adapt to the climate to make the wearer warmer or cooler.
7. The US textile industry invested $18.5 billion in new plants and equipment from 2005 to 2014. New fiber, yarn, and recycling facilities are among the most of the newly open to convert textile and other waste to new textile uses and resins.
8. Investment in textile mills, textile product mills and textile factories in the USA has seen especially explosive growth, climbing from $960 million in 2009 to $1.8 billion in 2014 – an increase of 87 percent.
9. Textile mills and textile factories in the USA increased US textile production by 23% between 2004 and 2014, making textiles one of the top industrial sectors for productivity growth in the country.
10. In 2015, textile workers on average earned $626 per week, representing 155% more than what apparel store workers earned ($245), and received health care and pension benefits.
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11. The US apparel market accounts for about 28% of the total global apparel market, and the total market value of the US apparel market reached over $331 billion in 2015.
12. The apparel retail market in the US has seen recovering for the last few years, the individual spends on clothing has increased to average $907 in America or 64 garment items purchased per year.
13. Although US apparel production is increasing, nearly 98% of apparel purchased in the US are imported. China remains the biggest apparel supplier to the US, accounting for almost half of the US apparel imports in terms of quantity and 39.1% in terms of value.
14. Apparel Imports from Vietnam to the US has seen the fastest increasing rate over the recent years.
15. Among the total 2.8 million workers directly and indirectly employed by the US textile and apparel industry, only 5% are in the apparel manufacturing sector, 5% works in the wholesaling and up to 90% are working for retailers.
16. The US textile industry had a better performance economically as the value of apparel manufacturing increased 5% in 2015.
17. The trade deficit in the US textile and apparel industry is gradually reducing, due to China’s decreasing market share, imports of textile and apparel to the United States decreased 1% in 2015. Meanwhile, the U.S. textile exports continue to grow for the straight 5 years so far.
18. Apart from production, sustainability and supply chain management are also expected to develop in the US textile and apparel industry over the next few years.
19. The details of the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiation and whether the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) bill can be passed by Congress will have a substantial impact trade policy in the US textile and apparel industry
20. Nike currently is the largest apparel company in the US with revenue of over $30.6 billion in 2015, and employment of more than 63,000 people.
These are the most important garment industry facts from the USA in 2018 you need to know. Thousands of world’s leading textile companies can be in your contact list if you register to join BizVibe today! Whether you are looking for reliable suppliers, top textile fabric manufacturers in the USA, potential customers in over 70 major countries, or finding out what your competitors are buying and which suppliers they’re using, BizVibe can help you reach out to sales prospects and decision-makers in the textile industry in the USA today.
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* Updated in 2018 with up-to-date facts.
List of Textile Companies in the USA:
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