The US textile industry is reviving, especially knitting and hosiery. The industry generated 54 billion dollars (over Rs 3,00,000 crores) in shipments in 2012 and employed about 2,33,000 people. Business is on the upswing as southern states, in particular, are wooing textile companies with tax breaks, reliable utilities, modern ports and airports and a dependable, trained and nonunion workforce. After years of buying fabric from factories in Asia, some American brands have begun sourcing materials from textile companies in the United States.
The US textile industry is one of the more important employers in the manufacturing sector. It represents two per cent of the US manufacturing workforce. Textile industry workers in the US are highly skilled and the industry is technologically advanced, with investments upward of 1.4 billion dollars (over Rs 8,000 crores) annually in total capital expenditures. In recent years, US textile companies have focused on retooling their businesses, finding more effective work processes, investing in niche products and markets, and controlling costs.
The industry is globally competitive, ranking third in global export value behind the European Union and China. US exports of textiles increased by 14 per cent between 2010 and 2011. More than 80 per cent of US textile exports go to its free trade agreement partner countries.
