By Kristi Ellis
Cambodia, although still the seventh-largest apparel supplier to the U.S., has been struggling with wage and labor issues over the past several months, reflected in its apparel import numbers, which have seen several months of declines. In August, apparel imports from Cambodia fell 21.1 percent to 90 million SME.
“It continues to reflect some concerns about Cambodia,” said Julia K. Hughes, president at the U.S. Fashion Industry Association. “When we talk to companies who have had an important presence in Cambodia, no one has said ‘I’m pulling out.’ But we see imports going down so some companies sourcing there are not sourcing there anymore or are cutting back sourcing there.”