A review of the January-February 2026 data on US textile and apparel (T&A) imports indicates a sharp contraction across key sourcing markets, with India experiencing one of the steepest declines among major suppliers, as per an analysis by Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI).

India’s exports to the US fell markedly in the first two months of 2026. Imports declined by 18.2% year-on-year in January and further deteriorated to -28.7% in February, bringing total imports down from US $1.69 billion (Jan-Feb 2025) to approximately US $1.34 billion (Jan-Feb 2026).

The sharper contraction in February indicates that order flows weakened further as the quarter progressed, potentially reflecting inventory overhangs at US retailers, pricing pressures, or a shift in sourcing strategies.

In contrast, Vietnam has demonstrated relative resilience. US imports from Vietnam grew 5.1% in January and 5.0% in February, reaching US $2.99 billion across Jan-Feb 2026, up from US $2.85 billion in the same period last year.

Bangladesh recorded a modest decline of 1.5% in January, followed by a sharper 16.4% drop in February. Total imports fell from US $1.54 billion (Jan-Feb 2025) to US $1.41 billion (Jan-Feb 2026).

China experienced the most pronounced decline among major suppliers, with imports plunging 56.0% in January and 45.2% in February. Total imports nearly halved from US $4.34 billion to US $2.12 billion in the two-month period.