The United States releases total textile import statistics

According to statistics released by the Office of Textiles and Apparel of the U.S. Department of Commerce (OTEXA), from January to December 2008, the United States imported 50.4 billion square meters of textiles and apparel from the world, a year-on-year decrease of 5.2%, with an amount of US$93.2 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 3.3%; from China Imports were 20.6 billion square meters, a year-on-year decrease of 3.6%, and the amount was US$32.7 billion, a year-on-year increase of 1.1%. China’s share of the total import volume of the United States increased from 40.3% in 2007 to 40.9% in 2008, and its share of the total import value increased from 33.5% in 2007 to 35.1% in 2008.