The US apparel market showed a modest recovery in May 2026, with import volume rising 6.5% year-on-year and value increasing 2.8%. However, the average import price fell 3.5%, indicating a shift toward cheaper goods as low-cost sources gain share.
Compared to the same period two years ago, total US apparel imports are still down 7.4% in volume and 4.8% in value. The overseas supply base has not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels, and the textile supply side continues to face demand contraction.
China’s Exports to the US: A False Boom Driven by Base Effects
In May 2026, China’s apparel exports to the US appeared strong: import volume surged 28.5% and value rose 18.4% year-on-year. But this growth is entirely due to the extremely low base from 2025, when US imports from China plummeted.
Removing the base effect and comparing to 2024, the picture is grim: US apparel imports from China plunged 33.7% in volume and 43.7% in value. This steep decline has persisted for months. On price, the average import price of Chinese apparel fell 8% in May, and the cumulative average price from January to May dropped 18.6% year-on-year.
What does this mean? Chinese garment manufacturers are facing a double squeeze: fewer orders and lower prices. The temporary boost from a low base cannot mask the long-term loss of market share. For factories and traders relying on the US market, this is a warning signal.
Vietnam: The Core Beneficiary of Supply Chain Shifts
In stark contrast to China’s struggles, Vietnam’s apparel exports to the US have maintained steady, high growth. In May 2026 compared to 2024, US apparel imports from Vietnam rose 19.1% in volume and 19.4% in value, with both metrics rising in tandem.
This trend has persisted since the start of 2026. During the sharp drop in US imports from China from January to April, imports from Vietnam still grew over 3% year-on-year. These figures reinforce Vietnam’s position as the central beneficiary of the global textile supply chain adjustment. A large volume of orders that once flowed to China is now shifting to Southeast Asia.
Vietnam’s competitiveness goes beyond cost advantages. Its supporting industries, trade agreement benefits, and stable policy environment are building a systematic replacement capacity. For Chinese exporters, pure price competition is no longer sustainable.
Supply Chain Restructuring: From Short-Term Fluctuation to Long-Term Reality
The May 2026 US apparel import data confirms that the global textile and apparel supply chain restructuring is not a short-term fluctuation but a long-term structural shift. The temporary recovery from a low base cannot obscure the dual decline in China’s order volume and prices.
The competitiveness of alternative sources in Southeast Asia continues to strengthen. This trend raises new demands for buyers, manufacturers, and traders. For Chinese garment exporters, accelerating product upgrades, diversifying overseas markets, and building differentiated competitiveness are the core paths to navigating the industry cycle.