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 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:
- 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
- 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
- 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
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 business confidence showed marginal recovery in January 2026, though both indicators remain in negative territory.
Download the Complete Sample Report by filling out the adjacent form. The full report benchmarks monthly apparel import and export data across the US, EU, UK, and Japan against 2025 actuals, tracks India’s long-term export trajectory from 2017 to 2026, and maps retailer inventory positions across eight major US brands.
