The Global Apparel Consumption & Trade Update provides a monthly snapshot of apparel trade flows, sourcing trends, retail performance, and consumption indicators across the US, EU, UK, Japan, and key sourcing nations including India.

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Key highlights from June 2026 report:

Global apparel imports across key markets declined ~5% YTD through April 2026, with the US at -15% YTD, EU at -0.5% YTD, and the UK outperforming at +4% YTD
Vietnam (+13% YTD) and Italy (+10% YTD) were the only major suppliers posting export growth in May 2026; India fell -12% YTD and Bangladesh -4% YTD
India’s apparel exports stood at US$ 1.3 Bn. in May 2026, down 15% YoY, tracking below the 6-year monthly average across all five reported months
US apparel store sales reached US$ 90.0 Bn. Jan-May 2026, up 4% YTD, even as inflation climbed to 4.2% in May 2026
EU clothing business confidence declined to -28 in May 2026, its weakest reading in the tracked period
Key highlights from May 2026 report:

Global apparel imports across key markets declined ~4% YTD, with the US under significant pressure (-15% YTD) while the EU held steady (+0.3%) and the UK posted modest growth (+4%)
Vietnam (+11% YTD) and Bangladesh (+31% YoY in April) continued to gain ground as China (-1% YTD) and India (-28% YTD in the US market) faced headwinds
India’s apparel exports stood at US$ 1.21 Bn. in April 2026, down 12% YoY and below the long-term monthly average of US$ 1.28 Bn.
US apparel retail sales reached US$ 18.8 Bn. in April 2026, up 4% YoY; India’s domestic apparel retail grew 8% YoY in the same period
EU clothing business confidence remained subdued, reflecting persistent demand softness across the European market
Key highlights from April 2026 report:

Global apparel imports across key markets declined ~3% YTD through March 2026, with the US falling sharply (-15% YTD) while the EU (-0.5% YTD) and UK (+4% YTD) held comparatively stable
India’s apparel exports stood at US$ 1.24 Bn in March 2026, down 19% YoY, even as domestic apparel retail posted strong 13% YoY growth in the same month
China’s apparel exports declined 30% YoY in March 2026, accelerating the ongoing supplier shift toward Vietnam and Bangladesh in the US market
US apparel store sales reached US$ 18.9 Bn in March 2026, up 3% YoY, though home furnishings continued to soften at -1%
EU textile and clothing business confidence remained subdued amid persistent supply chain and demand headwinds
Key highlights from March 2026 report:

Cumulative apparel imports across key markets declined ~8% YoY, with the US and Japan softening while the EU and UK showed relative stability through the first two months of 2026
Vietnam continued to gain incremental share in the US market as China and Bangladesh faced export pressure, a shift that is both structural and accelerating
India’s apparel exports stood at US$ 1.40 Bn. in February 2026, reflecting an ~8% YoY decline against a 6-year monthly average of US$ 1.51 Bn.
US apparel store sales were ~US$ 14.2 Bn. in January 2026, down ~3% YoY, with home furnishings declining 6% alongside weak e-commerce signals across key markets
EU textile and clothing business confidence remained deeply negative, with both segments tracking below prior-year levels through early 2026
Key highlights from Feb 2026 report:

Global apparel imports across key markets grew ~6% YTD in 2025, led by the EU (+13% YTD) and UK (+9% YTD), while the US remained under pressure at -2% YTD
Post-tariff supplier shifts deepened: Vietnam’s share in the US market rose from 18% in 2023 to 21% in 2025, while China’s share fell from 22% to 14% over the same period
India’s apparel exports stood at US$ 1.54 Bn. in January 2026, down 4.3% YoY but above the 8-year monthly average of US$ 1.28 Bn.
US apparel store sales totalled US$ 230.2 Bn. for full-year 2025, up 3% over 2024; EU textile and clothing confidence showed marginal recovery in January 2026
UK apparel imports grew 9% YTD in 2025, with Bangladesh consolidating its position as the second-largest supplier to the market after China.
CREDITS: PR received from Wazir AI Team <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.> and text used as it is.