U.S. Technical Textiles Imports
In March 2023, the amount of textile products and articles for technical uses imported into the United States surged to 6.6K tons, growing by 22% against the previous month. In general, imports, however, recorded a slight shrinkage.
In value terms, technical textiles imports surged to $89M (IndexBox estimates) in March 2023. Over the period under review, imports, however, showed a relatively flat trend pattern.
Imports by Country
In March 2023, Mexico (4.1K tons) constituted the largest technical textiles supplier to the United States, accounting for a 62% share of total imports. Moreover, technical textiles imports from Mexico exceeded the figures recorded by the second-largest supplier, China (723 tons), sixfold. India (348 tons) ranked third in terms of total imports with a 5.3% share.
From March 2022 to March 2023, the average monthly growth rate of volume from Mexico amounted to -1.5%. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average monthly rates of imports growth: China (-4.2% per month) and India (+5.4% per month).
In value terms, Mexico ($29M) constituted the largest supplier of technical textiles to the United States, comprising 32% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was held by Canada ($14M), with a 16% share of total imports. It was followed by Germany, with a 9.7% share.
From March 2022 to March 2023, the average monthly rate of growth in terms of value from Mexico was relatively modest. The remaining supplying countries recorded the following average monthly rates of imports growth: Canada (+0.2% per month) and Germany (+1.8% per month).
Imports by Type
In March 2023, textile products and articles for technical uses; specified in note 7 to this chapter (5.6K tons) constituted the largest type of technical textiles supplied to the United States, accounting for a 84% share of total imports. Moreover, textile products and articles for technical uses; specified in note 7 to this chapter exceeded the figures recorded for the second-largest type, textiles; transmission or conveyor belts or belting, of textile material, whether or not reinforced with metal or other material (521 tons), more than tenfold. Textile hosepiping and similar textile tubing (469 tons) ranked third in terms of total imports with a 7.1% share.
From March 2022 to March 2023, the average monthly rate of growth in terms of the volume of import of textile products and articles for technical uses; specified in note 7 to this chapter totaled -1.6%. With regard to the other supplied products, the following average monthly rates of growth were recorded: textiles; transmission or conveyor belts or belting, of textile material, whether or not reinforced with metal or other material (-1.0% per month) and textile hosepiping and similar textile tubing (-0.1% per month).
In value terms, textile products and articles for technical uses; specified in note 7 to this chapter ($75M) constituted the largest type of technical textiles supplied to the United States, comprising 84% of total imports. The second position in the ranking was held by textiles; transmission or conveyor belts or belting, of textile material, whether or not reinforced with metal or other material ($8.2M), with a 9.2% share of total imports. It was followed by textile hosepiping and similar textile tubing, with a 6.3% share.
Import Prices by Country
In March 2023, the technical textiles price amounted to $13,479 per ton (CIF, US), growing by 2.8% against the previous month. Over the last twelve-month period, it increased at an average monthly rate of +1.1%. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in December 2022 an increase of 13% m-o-m. As a result, import price reached the peak level of $13,975 per ton. From January 2023 to March 2023, the average import prices failed to regain momentum.
There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major supplying countries. In March 2023, the country with the highest price was Canada ($48,455 per ton), while the price for Mexico ($6,997 per ton) was amongst the lowest.
From March 2022 to March 2023, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Canada (+1.7%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.