Swimwear is a potential apparel product category in the US market but it has faced the wrath of pandemic in 2020, just like all other product categories have.
Even after USA fell by 21.92 per cent to import US $ 701.24 million worth of swimwear in January-October ’20 period, there are some countries which grew in their respective shipment to USA.
Out of 15 countries which ship swimwear to USA, only 5 managed to grow on Y-o-Y basis – Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Jordan, Bangladesh and Egypt.
Vietnam shipped US $ 185.49 million of swimwear to USA in the first 10-month period of 2020, marking 0.85 per cent surge. The country ranked second, next to China, with 26.45 per cent share in total import values of USA in swimwear category.
Sri Lanka, known for producing high-end swimwear products, also grew by 0.32 per cent on Y-o-Y basis, accommodating US $ 38.89 million in total swimwear imported by USA.
It’s worth noting here that both Vietnam and Sri Lanka declined in volume-terms by 4.17 per cent and 4.44 per cent, respectively. The fall in volumes but rise in values is an indication that both the countries received orders for more high-end swimwear products in 2020 than 2019.
On the other hand, Jordan, Egypt and Bangladesh upped their swimwear exports to USA in Jan.-Oct. ’20 period both in values and volumes.
Registering almost three times more surge in 2020 over 2019, Jordan clocked US $ 30.63 million from its swimwear exports to USA which is over 187 per cent more from a year earlier.
As far as volumes are concerned, Jordan noted 176.10 per cent surge as compared to the last year shipment of the same period.
Bangladesh too noted a significant growth by 70.39 per cent in values, as it tapped US $ 70.39 million from swimwear shipment to USA, and 75.65 per cent in volumes in Jan.-Oct. ’20 as against Jan.-Oct. ’19.
Egypt is another destination that has created its own niche in apparel exports to USA in recent years. As swimwear is a strong product for Egypt, it reflected in the exports figures as well. The country grew 34.93 per cent in volumes, while growth in values was 27.92 per cent as it clocked US $ 25.44 million.