USA : Textile trade higher, MMF & wool textiles exports up slightly

U.S. textile imports rose during June 2007, to 1.7 billion (raw-fiber equivalent) pounds, 11 percent above May but 5 percent below June 2006. Imports of cotton, wool, and manmade fiber textiles increased in June compared with a month earlier. Imports of all major end-use categories increased in June with apparel imports, at 1.1 billion pounds, accounting for most of the increase.
Cotton imports, at 981 million pounds, accounted for 57 percent of the total. Imports of cotton rose 10 percent from May but were 6 percent below a year ago. Imports from Asia accounted for 70 percent of the June total, while shipments from other North American countries provided another 22 percent.
U.S. textile exports in June, at 363 million pounds, were slightly above a month earlier but 14 percent below June 2006. Exports of manmade fibers and wool textiles rose slightly, while shipments of cotton, linen, and silk declined from May. For major end-use categories, increased shipments of yarn, thread, and fabric and floor coverings more than offset lower shipments of apparel and home furnishings.
Cotton textile exports, at 179 million pounds, were 1 percent below the previous month and accounted for 49 percent of all textile shipments. U.S. cotton textile exports, for the most part, are sent to other North American countries, and 91 percent of the shipments were sent to this region in June.
Overall, the U.S. textile trade deficit for the first half of 2007 reached 7.1 billion pounds, 6 percent higher than in the first half of 2006. The cotton textile trade deficit, at 4.2 billion pounds, rose 5 percent above January-June 2006. However, cotton’s share of the total trade deficit was 59 percent, the same share as during the first 6 months of 2006.