US imports of men's and women's cotton denim trousers have fallen 11 per cent in volume during the first two months of the year. Imports from China decreased heavily while Hong Kong and Macau shipments surged. Bangladesh, Vietnam and Nicaragua were other origins favored by US buyers. Prices were stable.

US imports of men's and women's denim trousers have fallen 11 per cent in volume during the first two months of the year with shipments from China significantly lower.

As a consequence of new US quotas, exports from China have declined 77 per cent in volume terms while those from Hong Kong were rising 68 percent.

Quotas' impact
With China restricted by US limits until 2009, Hong Kong and Macau have seen exports increase at high rates far exceeding growth for 2005.

Another result of US quotas, imports of denim jeans from Asian producers outside China surged in the first two months of the year.

Shipments from Bangladesh were up 153 percent while imports from Indonesia and Vietnam were rising 63 and 57 percent, respectively.

There also was a large increase in imports from Pakistan and the Philippines.

As expected, Jordanian exports are clearly slowing down while shipments from Egypt are now surging.

Egypt's lower costs
Jordan enjoyed a duty-free access to the United States for years while Cairo was just granted the same treatment in the last year.

As a consequence of lower wages in Egypt, denim jean production could rapidly be transferred from Jordan to Egypt.

Production of denim fabrics in Egypt could also be boosted by the recent agreement with Washington.

In Central America, a similar shift in results is apparent with US imports from Nicaragua now surging while shipments from Guatemala are dramatically falling.

Shipments of jeans from Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Brazil, Turkey and Lesotho were all in sharp decline at the same time.

Unchanged prices
Prices paid by US importers were stable compared with one year ago, only increasing by 0.6 per cent.