Publication Number: 3937

Report Title: Certain Textile Articles: Performance Outerwear

Investigation Number: 332-479

Author's name(s): Andrea Boron, Heidi Colby-Oizumi, Kimberlie Freund

Date Published: July 2007

Report Description/Introductory Text: There is relatively little U.S. production of performance outerwear jackets and pants, as most firms have reportedly moved production offshore, primarily to Asia. Thirteen companies reported producing performance outerwear jackets and pants in the United States, totaling an estimated 904,000 pieces in 2005 and 650,000 pieces in 2006. U.S. shipments of performance outerwear totaled roughly $52 million in 2006, of which over one-half of the quantity of domestic shipments of performance outerwear were for the U.S. military and government, with the remainder sold domestically for commercial (non-military) use. Domestic production of performance outerwear likely accounted for a small share of the total market for the subject goods.

Ten companies reported producing fabrics for use in performance outerwear jackets and pants in the United States. Shipments of U.S. produced fabrics used in performance outerwear totaled an estimated $142 million in 2006 and included shell and lining fabrics, as well as fabrics that are shipped for further processing before use in performance outerwear. Domestic production of finished water-resistant fabrics for use in the outer shell of performance outerwear jackets and pants totaled an estimated 6.3 million square meters in 2006, of which about 75 percent were used in the production of performance outerwear jackets and pants for the U.S. military and government.

Topics Covered: performance outerwear, high performance outerwear, outerwear, jackets, pants, fabrics, knit, woven, U.S. shipments, U.S. production, apparel

Countries: United States, China, Vietnam

HTS Numbers: 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 59, 60, 61, 62

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