Textiles, Apparel & Sporting Goods

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Welcome to the International Trade Administration’s Global Textiles, Apparel, & Sporting Goods industry webpage. This site is designed to provide your company with the most recent international industry market research, trade leads, and event information.

Our network of trade specialists and industry experts throughout the U.S. and in foreign markets abroad stands ready to help you increase your export sales by supplying you with essential market research and trade opportunities. This site will also keep you abreast of industry events such as educational seminars, tradeshows, and exhibitions. Please let us know how we can serve you.

Featured Events

U.S.A. Sample Booth at Technotex – January 17-19, 2013. New Delhi, India. Technotex is India’s premier technical textiles exhibition. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), jointly with the Ministry of Textiles, is organizing the second edition of this show in January 2013. Technotex 2013 will attract participants from all the sub-sectors of Technical Textiles as well as from the diverse set of user segments including the Army, Navy, Paramilitary Forces, Railways, Border Roads Organization, Hospitals, Construction Companies, etc. OTEXA will feature a catalog/sample booth at Technotex 2013. Included in the package of services is the collection of leads that will be sent to each company in a spreadsheet after the show, promotion of samples and the opportunity for pre- concurrent and post-show publicity for your company. For additional information contact Mary Lynn Landgraf, (202) 482-7909 or Mary-Lynn.Landgraf@trade.gov. For more information about this opportunity click here.

U.S.A. Pavilion at International Defense Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) – February 17-21, 2013. Abu Dhabi, UAE. IDEX is the only international defense exhibition and conference in the Middle East and North African region demonstrating the latest technology across land, sea and air sectors of defense. It is a unique platform to establish and strengthen relationships with government departments, businesses and armed forces throughout the region. Textiles are a major component of IDEX 2013, which will showcase everything from clothing to shelters. OTEXA maintains a USA Business Information Office (BIO) at IDEX 2013 for up to 12 qualified U.S. manufacturers and suppliers of military/defense, industrial, and specialty technical textiles. Participants in this catalog/sample show will receive a package of services, including the collection of leads that will be sent to each company in a spreadsheet after the show, promotion of samples and pre-concurrent and post show publicity. For additional information contact Mary Lynn Landgraf, (202) 482-7909 or Mary-Lynn.Landgraf@trade.gov. For more information about this opportunity click here.

U.S.A. Sample Booth at Latin America Aero & Defense (LAAD) – April 9-12, 2013. Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. LAAD 2013 International Defense and Security Show, now in its 9th year, will be the platform for international defense companies to showcase a full range of military products and services to meet the increasing demand of the local defense industry. This show is one of the largest in the world, presenting the latest in technology in the aerospace and defense market. OTEXA will feature a catalog/sample booth at LAAD 2013. Included in the package of services are the collections of leads that will be sent to each company in a spreadsheet after the show, promotion of samples and the opportunity for pre- concurrent and post-show publicity for your company. For additional information contact Mary Lynn Landgraf, (202) 482-7909 or Mary-Lynn.Landgraf@trade.gov. For more information about this opportunity click here.

U.S.A. Sample Booth at Techtextil – June 11-13, 2013. Frankfurt, Germany. Held biennially, Techtextil is the world’s largest and most successful international trade fair for technical textiles and nonwovens. For 27 years Techtextil has been an optimal forum for contacts, innovations, and for setting industry trends. Target groups/applications include: Industry, Safety, Clothing, Transport, Furniture / Interior Fittings, Sport, Building / Construction, Medicine, Environmental Protection, and Agriculture. OTEXA will feature a catalog/sample booth at Techtextil 2013. Included in the package of services are the collections of leads that will be sent to each company in a spreadsheet after the show, promotion of samples and the opportunity for pre- concurrent and post-show publicity for your company. For additional information contact Mary Lynn Landgraf, (202) 482-7909 or Mary-Lynn.Landgraf@trade.gov. For more information about this opportunity click here.

U.S.A. Sample & Information Booth at Defense & Security Equipment International (DSEi) - September 10-13, 2013. London, UK. Held biennially, DSEi is the world’s largest fully integrated defense and security event and provides participants the ability to showcase their full capabilities at a single exhibition to a pre-qualified attendee base. DSEi 2013 will offer both exhibitors and visitors more opportunities than ever before to demonstrate and keep up to date with the latest developments and issues within the security arena. OTEXA has a Sample and Information Booth at DSEi 2013 for up to 12 qualified U.S. manufacturers and suppliers of military/defense, industrial, and specialty technical textiles. Participants in this catalog/sample show are offered a package of services including the collection of leads that will be sent to each company in a spreadsheet after the show, promotion of samples and pre-concurrent and post show publicity. For additional information contact Mary Lynn Landgraf, (202) 482-7909 or Mary-Lynn.Landgraf@trade.gov. For more information about this opportunity click here.

OTEXA Trade Events – The Office of Textiles and Apparel often updates upcoming trade events that span the industry and take place around the world.

Featured Webinars

Featured Resources

WeConnectFashion – A search engine and database that connects fashion brands, retailers and service providers with each other and with the marketplace. This website provides business networking, market research and more.

New to Exporting? – Arm yourself with the information needed to access the growing foreign market. Utilize export opportunities and increase your company’s growth.

Hot Issues – Stay up to date with the changing factors worldwide. Search capability allows you to narrow your search to articles involving the countries your interested in.

Priority Market Videos- 58 percent of U.S. exporters export to only one market, mainly Canada. Many small and midsized companies that work with the U.S. Commercial Service have found new customers in dozens of markets. Among the best prospect markets for U.S. companies are Vietnam, India, Indonesia, China, Taiwan and Thailand. From the short videos on this page, you’ll learn why these markets are important. You’ll also learn about a few of the many sectors where U.S. companies are competitive. Importantly, you’ll also meet the top U.S. commercial diplomats in these markets who, along with their staff of local market and industry experts, will help you evaluate, enter and succeed.

Want to know what the top markets are? Check out the Top 25 Market Reports for Winter Apparel and Sporting Goods. Additional reports for other products available on request. Then check out the Country Reports for the top markets which provide provide comprehensive information including market conditions, best export prospects, financing, finding distributors, and legal and cultural issues.

Selected Market Reports

Market research and reports are available through U.S. Commercial Services. Your local branch can provide additional material and information specific to your products or services. Contact your local branch for additional material. The reports include points of contact, trade events, trade data, best prospects, and market demand.

Greece - The 1,200 businesses licensed to sell firearms in Greece, create an impression that the sector is quite large. In reality however, most stores handling hunting and fishing goods are small businesses. There is an emerging market for online retailers and importers of hunting and fishing goods.

Mexico - The Mexican textile industry is very sensitive to external and internal factors such as changes in the production model, inclusion of China and Asian competitors in WTO, antidumping, and counterfeit among others. Due to these reasons, U.S. exporters must be aware of key aspects and requirements for exporting to Mexico.

Japan - Japan is an important market for apparel. In 2010, the United States sold $244 million worth of apparel products to Japan, a 12.6% increase over 2009. Although overall consumption dropped significantly right after the earthquake/tsunami disaster in March 2011, consumption had levels recovered by June. The “fast fashion” boom has slowed down and now consumers are looking for something different. This is a good sign for American apparel suppliers. The $121.1 billion Japanese apparel market is open to imported apparel and does not have significant tariff or non-tariff barriers.

Canada - The Canadian fashion industry is quite small; 96% of the industry is SME’s, 38% with 1-4 employees and 58% with 5-99. However it is experiencing a revival, mainly because: There are few entry barriers; Little capital investment is needed; New niches continue to be found and expanded. Domestic production is steadily declining and there is a growing need for imports. Currently, 79% of apparel in Canada is imported. The demand is stable; manufacturing is decreasing while imports are increasing.

Ukraine - With a population of 45.8 million people, Ukraine is considered a promising and growing market for U.S. suppliers of textiles and apparel. The market size in this category is estimated at USD 2.8 billion, which is dominated by imports. The prospects for 2011-2015 are optimistic. U.S. market share, according to Global Trade Atlas statistics, has declined from 2.5% in 2009 to 1.7% in 2010. Ukraine can be an attractive place for outsourced fabrication.

Japan - The size of the Japanese production of high performance industrial fibers is estimated at US$5.9 billion. Despite current economic conditions, the world and Japanese markets are expected to grow over the next few years. High tech industrial fabrics for medical products, renewable energy and environmental products, transportation, and safety and protective products may have good potential in Japan.

Korea - Despite there being an economic downturn last year, Korea’s apparel industry has shown steady growth during the last few years with the rapid embrace of both foreign and local fashions, evolving retail channels, and an increasingly wider variety of apparel in the marketplace. Koreans are very brand conscious. Whether they are high end brands or American casuals, Korean consumers demand global fashion brands and they are heavily influenced by what Korean and Hollywood stars wear. Thus, very high-end products were never affected by the recession in Korea.

Poland - The apparel market is considered very campaign driven. Poles are highly receptive to marketing and advertising. The purchasing power of Polish consumers is rising steadily and the average Polish consumer can afford to and does spend more on clothing and footwear. They are becoming increasingly fashion conscious, and demanding higher quality and more sophisticated products.

Japan - U.S. companies who are interested in entering the market should have excellent business controls, dependable communication and the ability to produce and ship their products on time in addition to a unique and exciting collection of apparel. U.S. apparel exports to Japan have been increasing for the last three years and have shown more than a 10% increase for the first six months of 2010.

Saudi Arabia – This report focuses on the high-end segment of the apparel market, which is dominated by imports from Europe and the United States.

Taiwan - If you consider expanding your business overseas, Taiwan should be high on your agenda. Taiwan consumers spend approximately 3.5 – 4.0 percent of their household income on apparel.

View a Trade Data Snapshot

Below are links to view trade data snapshots for selected NAICS codes. Additional trade data is available through the TradeStats Express Database.