Fur Apparel Imports into US Surging

FUR COMMISSION USA PRESS RELEASE, AUGUST 9, 2000

Fur Apparel Imports into US Surging

IMPORTS OF FUR APPAREL into the US continued to surge in April according to the Sandy Parker Reports, citing data from the Commerce Department.(1) This trend reflected “the trade’s optimistic planning for the coming fall-winter season” and deliveries of sample orders placed by US importers and retailers at the Hong Kong Fair in March.

Shipments from Hong Kong accounted for more than two-thirds of all imports in April, while Hong Kong/China displaced Canada as America’s leading supplier for the first time. Canada, in fact, was the only major source to register a decline in April.

Total imports jumped 45% to $6.7 million, the fourth straight month of steep rises, of which $5.2 million was of mink apparel. Total imports for January-April hit $25.2 million, more than 60% up on last year, with mink accounting for $15.2 million.

Canada retained its position as top supplier over the first four months, shipping $10.6 million, up 26% over last year. This included $4.4 million in mink and $6.2 million other furs. In April, however, imports from Canada fell 31% to $787,000.

Imports from Hong Kong/China soared 76% in April to $4.7 million, of which $4.4 million was mink. This brought the four-month total to $9.7 million, including $8.8 million in mink apparel.

April shipments from Greece came to $317,000, up from just $38,000 last year, of which $265,000 was mink. For the first four months, Greece shipped $1.8 million (up 86%), including $1.5 million in mink apparel.

Imports from fourth-ranking Italy came to $453,000 in April, up 93%, consisting of $214,000 in mink and $239,000 other furs. For the first four months, Italy shipped $1.4 million (up 127%), consisting of $364,000 in mink and $988,000 other furs.

Note:

(1) http://dataweb.usitc.gov; the commodity number for mink is 4303100030 and for other furs is 4303100060.