US textile & apparel exports drop 8.8% in January-May 2026 - Textile Fashion News Fibre2Fashion Sponsored Connect with Australian & New Zealand Buyers at Global Sourcing Expo Australia | Exhibit Today. Visit Interfilière Paris at WSN Paris.
- Textile Fashion News Fibre2Fashion Sponsored Connect with Australian & New Zealand Buyers at Global Sourcing Expo Australia | Exhibit Today. Visit Interfilière Paris at WSN Paris. Save with Early Bird | Register Now Showcase your apparel brand at Europe's largest B2B clothing fair Expo Trends 2026 | Get Ticket Power your bio transition with sugarcane-based spandex from Hyosung | Learn More Intelligence TexPro F2F Prime News Trade Fairs & Events Marketplace Marketing Solutions Digital Advertisement Print Advertisement Webinar Marketing Media Booster Magazine Subscription Articles Advertise with Us Sign In All Categories Articles News Buyers Suppliers Trade Fairs Interview Market Intelligence F2F Prime For You Textiles Apparel Fashion Retail E-commerce Technology Sustainability Chemicals Technical Textiles News Flash EU Parliament clears modernised EU-Mexico trade pact Sulphur market at highs as Hormuz risk keeps sellers firm India exports $177 mn; may make 90% of luxury embroidery—no credit China retail plan targets consumption & jobs growth Egypt approves $15 mn garment project in Sadat City's free zone Textiles | US textile & apparel exports drop 8.8% in January-May 202611 Jul '262 min read shutterstock.com Insights US textile and apparel exports fell ***.** per cent to $*.** billion in January–May 2026, Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) data showed, as shipments to most key markets declined. Yarn exports recorded the steepest drop, while apparel and fabric exports also weakened. Falling exports to Mexico, China and Central America reflected softer regional manufacturing demand. Shipments to major markets, including Mexico, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Canada, the Netherlands, Japan, Belgium, Guatemala and China, contracted, with declines of up to * * . * * per cent. Exports to Mexico fell * . * * per cent to $ * , * * * . * * * million, pointing towards slower manufacturing activity in its export-oriented apparel sector, which relies heavily on US yarns and fabrics. Weakness in Honduras and the Dominican Republic similarly mirrors subdued orders. Among the top ten markets, US exports to China fell * * . * * per cent. Only United Kingdom recorded mild increase of * . * * per cent in the shipment from the US. During the period, the US shipped textiles worth $ * , * * * . * * * million to Canada, $ * * * . * * * million to Honduras, $ * * * . * * * million to the Netherlands, $ * * * . * * * million to China, $ * * * . * * * million to Guatemala, and $ * * * . * * * million to the Dominican Republic, underscoring North America’s continued dominance as the primary export market. However, the decline in shipments to China highlights ongoing structural shifts, as China increasingly produces upstream textile inputs domestically and prioritises self-sufficiency amid trade and policy considerations. By product category, apparel exports fell * . * * per cent to $ * , * * * . * * * m