Cotton knit t-shirt imports in the United States: data, top suppliers and prices
In 2024, the United States imported cotton knit t-shirt worth $4.91 billion (179.1 thousand tonnes). That makes it the largest importer of this product worldwide, out of 224 countries. Value fell 21% from 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable. The peak in this period was 2022, at $7.38 billion.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4.91B | 179.1K t |
| 2023 | $6.20B | 334.4K t |
| 2022 | $7.38B | 439.6K t |
| 2021 | $6.61B | 384.3K t |
| 2020 | $4.31B | 297.3K t |
| 2019 | $4.35B | 178.4K t |
| 2018 | $5.24B | 342.2K t |
| 2017 | $4.99B | 329.6K t |
Where the United States imports cotton knit t-shirt from
Most of the value came from Nicaragua (12%), Bangladesh (11%), India (9%). Trade is spread widely: the top three suppliers together make up only 32%.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Nicaragua | $588.8M | 12% |
| Bangladesh | $537.4M | 11% |
| India | $461.5M | 9.4% |
| Vietnam | $315.8M | 6.4% |
| China | $311.1M | 6.3% |
| Guatemala | $306.6M | 6.2% |
| El Salvador | $305.3M | 6.2% |
| Mexico | $300.4M | 6.1% |
| Dominican Republic | $297.7M | 6.1% |
| Peru | $255.8M | 5.2% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $27.42 per kg, 34% above the world average of $20.53. This usually points to higher-grade or processed goods.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Cotton knit t-shirt exports from the United States
Exports of cotton knit t-shirt by the United States reached $609.3 million in 2024 (13.8 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 2%. One buyer market dominates: Mexico accounted for 56% of the value.
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | $343.0M | 56% |
| Canada | $59.7M | 9.8% |
| Nicaragua | $27.4M | 4.5% |
| Japan | $16.9M | 2.8% |
| Netherlands | $14.7M | 2.4% |
| Honduras | $11.5M | 1.9% |
| United Kingdom | $11.1M | 1.8% |
| South Korea | $10.0M | 1.6% |
| Hong Kong | $9.1M | 1.5% |
| Vietnam | $8.9M | 1.5% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
The shipment records behind United States cotton knit t-shirt imports (HS 6109.10): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
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Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 6109.10: T-shirts, singlets and other vests: of cotton, knitted or crocheted.
Common questions
What is the value of cotton knit t-shirt imported by the United States?
The United States imported cotton knit t-shirt worth $4.91 billion in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 179.1 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 1st of 224 countries worldwide, with 14% of world imports. The value was down 21% on 2023.
Which countries supply cotton knit t-shirt to the United States?
Nicaragua was the largest supplier with 12% of the value ($588.8 million), followed by Bangladesh (11%) and India (9%). The top three together account for 32%, out of 134 supplier countries in total. Bangladesh grew fastest among the top ten, up 29% on the year.
What is the average import price of cotton knit t-shirt per kg?
The average declared import value was about $27.42 per kg in 2024, 34% above the world average of $20.53 per kg. The figure blends every grade shipped, so it works as a reference point rather than a quote.
How have imports of cotton knit t-shirt to the United States changed since 2017?
Imports went from $4.99 billion in 2017 to $4.91 billion in 2024, a fall of 2%. The peak was 2022 at $7.38 billion. Over 8 years the average was $5.50 billion a year.
Does the United States also export cotton knit t-shirt?
Yes. The United States exported $609.3 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Mexico, Canada and Nicaragua. On balance the United States is a net importer of this product, by about $4.30 billion a year.
What is the HS code for cotton knit t-shirt?
The HS code for cotton knit t-shirt is subheading 6109.10. It sits in HS chapter 61 (apparel and clothing accessories; knitted or crocheted). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 6109 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
The totals here are public statistics; the company-level detail sits in EximDataX, which has a direct customs feed for the United States. Tell us your product to see it live.
Same product, other countries
World cotton knit t-shirt trade: top importers and exporters
More trade data for the United States
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