US textile imports from China dived downwards in February compared to one year earlier. Shipments in restricted, as well as non-limited categories, were all significantly lower compared to last year's surging volumes. Concerned over supply disruption and embargoes, importers last year placed fewer orders with China.

US textile imports during February are much lower than during the same month one year earlier, according to US preliminary data

Less volume in restricted categories
Categories restricted under by the China-US textile deal last year have all seen shipments falling.

This has come of no surprise given the sheer large volumes of produce arriving into US ports last year.

Importers have clearly made less orders concerned over the possibility of future embargoes.

Supplies in sensitive limited categories such as 229 (special fabric) are over 50 per cent lower.

Categories 619 and 620 (polyester and other synthetic fabrics) are 33 and 56 per cent fewer.

These products aside, there have been decreases in imports of other fibres and fabrics not limited by the textile deal.

Notable reductions in volume have occurred in categories 226 (cheesecloth) and 314/614 (poplin fabrics).

Some increases though
It has not all been one-way traffic though.

There have been increases in certain other categories.

These include 220 (special weave fabrics) for instance where shipments are 113 per cent higher compared with February last year.

Blue denim supplies (category 225) also rose by a massive 270 per cent.

There was also a huge increase of carded cotton yarns (category 300) of well over 500 per cent.

However, volumes of category 301 (combed cotton yarns) were reduced to nearly nothing.