Top 10 textiles importers exceed $4 billion mark

Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 6/17/2002 12:00:00 AM

NEW YORK —

While U.S. economic growth came to a standstill in 2001, dollars generated from home textiles imports continued to grow, albeit at a slower pace, as the top 10 sources of home textiles imports combined to exceed the $4 billion mark in sales volume.

While China continued to dominate the import landscape, representing some 31 percent of the world total, or $1.29 billion, Pakistan and India narrowed the gap, both reaching 11 percent of the total, with $457 million and $454 million, respectively.

Mexico also was responsible for a solid portion of home textiles imports, with some 10 percent of the world total, or $416 million.

Portugal and Canada were the only top 10 export countries to see a decrease in sales volume. Portugal, which represented 5 percent of the 2001 total with $214 million, was down from $220 million in 2000. Canada comprised only 2 percent of the total with $114 million in sales, just shy of the $118 million produced in 2000.

Bed linens continue to represent by far the biggest category of imports, with some $1.54 billion in sales, or 37 percent. However, the category showed minimal growth over 2000, when it recorded $1.53 billion.

Towels and hard window products followed at 16.1 and 10.2 percent, respectively, or $657 million and $416 million.

Kitchen/bath linens, plastic curtains and drapes, and other home textiles also saw reduced sales volume in 2001 vs. 2000.

Top 10 sources of imported home textiles products, 1997-2001, in $thousands

U. S. home textiles imports by major product category, 1997-2001, in $thousands