TEXTILE, APPAREL TRADE SETS RECORDS IN 2000
' U.S. textile imports and exports reached record levels last year, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Textile and apparel imports totaled 32.8 billion square meter equivalents (SME), representing a 14.8 percent increase over 1999. Textile imports were up 16 percent reaching 16.8 billion SME, while apparel imports rose 13.7 percent to 16 billion SME.
Exports of textiles and apparel, measured in dollars, also reached record levels. Textile exports rose 14 percent to $10.5 billion, while apparel exports rose 2.7 percent to $8.2 billion.