HÀ NỘI – Việt Nam’s textile and garment exports this year are estimated to reach US$28.5 billion, meeting roughly 92 per cent of the set plan due to market difficulties, the Việt Nam Textile and Apparel Association (Vitas) reports.

According to the association, the industry’s largest export market in 2016 remains China, which accounts for more than half of the industry’s export value.

Exports to the US this year are also estimated at $11.4 billion, up 4 per cent against last year.

The EU, Japan, India, Brazil, Russia and Canada were also large importers of Việt Nam’s textile and garments in 2016, the association reported.

The association attributed the low export turnover to a lack of export orders in 2016 due to fierce competition from foreign textile and garment producers, while global demands declined.

Hoàng Vệ Dũng, chairman of the Đức Giang Garment and Textile Corporation, said obtaining orders had become more complicated, demanding higher quality and moving forward delivery deadlines.

Nguyễn Xuân Dương, chairman of the Hưng Yên Garment Joint Stock Corporation, said that importers asked his company to lower selling prices by 18-20 per cent, and even 30 per cent. However, several still found partners who were less expensive in other countries.  

Increasing production costs, limited orders and pressure by exporters to reduce selling prices have placed a burden on the corporation, Dương said.
Experts said that the textile and garment sector would continue facing challenges in 2017 due to fierce competition by other major exporters – including China, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan –while global demand is forecast to slow down.

Lê Tiến Trường, General Director of the National Garment and Textile Group (Vinatex), said textile and garment exports to the US and the EU will also see negative impacts, as consequences of Brexit and US President-elect Donald Trump, who opposes the TPP trade pact.

Therefore, the sector anticipates an export growth rate of just 5-7 per cent next year, if no appropriate policies are enacted, Trường said.

Vitas chairman Vũ Đức Giang said that it made several proposals to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) to support local industry, including strengthening management of both domestic and foreign investment projects in the industry, reviewing policies on minimum wage increases and working hours.

The association also asked for adjustments to the sector’s development and assistance in human resources training.

In addition, Vitas proposed that the MoIT review and revise legal documents causing difficulties for garment and textile businesses. - VNS