Industry Trade Data

International trade is a critical component of our industry's success, with more than 60 percent of recovered textile waste sent abroad last year. As Tables 1 and 2 show, in 2009, the United States exported some 1.4 billion pounds of used clothing (Harmonized Tariff Schedule heading 6309) valued at nearly $375 million and nearly 250 million pounds of rags and wiping cloths (HTS 6310) valued at some $86 million.

Table 1 HTS 6309: Worn Clothing and Other Worn Articles In 1000s
	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Dollars	258,772	271,496	336,081	406,203	372,863
Pounds	1,177,125	1,220,258	1,183,878	1,433,416	1,436,862

Source: USITC Dataweb

Table 2 HTS 6310: Used or New Rags, Scrap Twine, Cordage, Rope and Cables, and Worn-Out Articles of Twine, Cordage, Rope or Cables of Textile Materials In 1000s
	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Dollars	51,207	53,640	62,147	71,219	86,739
Pounds	158,717	167,401	189,613	203,224	246,843

Source: USITC Dataweb

Key destinations for U.S. secondhand clothing exports (HTS 6309) in 2009 included (in descending order): Canada, India, Chile, Pakistan, Guatemala, Angola, Mexico, Tanzania, Philippines, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Senegal and Congo. Key export destinations for HTS 6310s in 2009 included: India, Mexico, Chile, Canada, UAE, Nigeria, Honduras, the Philippines, Australia, Pakistan, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Tanzania, Angola, Senegal and Turkey.