The first quarter saw an extension of last year’s consistently lower imports of footwear, apparel and equipment, as declared customs value dropped 33% to $3,687.1 million from $5,490.6 million in Q1 ’23. Sneaker imports dipped 28% to $967.7 million from $1,345.1 million, and are now well below pre-pandemic levels. Apparel imports plunged 43% to $646.7 million from $1,134.8 million, a significantly worse decline sequentially for a sector that remains overstocked at retail, a situation that was exacerbated by weak winter apparel sales in many markets. Equipment imports tumbled 33% to $2,072.7 ... Log in to view full article.