The export of readymade garments to the United States, one of the major market for Nepal, has declined by 54 percent in January as compared to same month of the last fiscal year, leading local media group's website nepalnews. com reported on Wednesday.

According to statistics of the Garment Association of Nepal ( GAN), garments worth 2.6 million U.S. dollars were exported to U.S. in the first month of 2007 as compared to 5.6 million dollars traded in January last year.

Readymade garments weighing 4,220 kg were exported during the month of January as compared to 10,800 kg of the same period last year.

GAN further said that garment worth 3.4 million dollars were exported to U.S. in December last year.

Nepali garment export has been going through a downward spiral since the U.S. pledged duty and quota-free facility to Sub-Saharan African and Caribbean countries.

The export of readymade garment to the U.S. declined by 6 percent in 2006, while it declined by 41 percent in 2005 and 30 percent in 2004.