2021 Starts How 2020 Ended for U.S. Travel Goods Imports
On March 5, the U.S. government published January 2021 import data. U.S. travel goods imports (as described under HTS Heading 4202 – click links to get specific import data on luggage, backpacks, flatgoods, handbags, business cases/laptop bags, and travel bags) slid 31.3% (by volume) in Jan. 2021 (versus Jan. 2020). In addition to the obvious impact of COVID-19 on sales and on travel, the latest import numbers show the accelerating trend away from China. In Jan. 2021, U.S. travel goods imports from China fell 41.1%, with China accounting for only 54.2% of total U.S. travel goods imports. For comparison, in 2016, China accounted for 84.7% of all U.S. travel goods imports. U.S. travel goods imports from most major suppliers also fell in Jan. 2021 – #2 Vietnam (-2.9%), #3 Cambodia (-23.5%), #4 Burma (Myanmar) (-12.0%), and #5 India (-29.3%). Despite the declines, most top suppliers gained import share from China, with U.S. travel goods imports from Vietnam now accounting for 21.8% of all U.S. travel goods imports, followed by #3 Cambodia (7.6%), #4 Burma (Myanmar) (4.8%), and #5 India (3.4%). U.S. imports of travel goods account for approximately 99% of the U.S. travel goods market.