VIETNAM’S IMPORTS OF APPAREL, LEATHER AND FOOTWEAR MATERIALS GREW UP
Vietnam’s imports of apparel, leather and footwear materials grew up
Vietnam’s import of apparel, leather and footwear materials in July of this year grew up by 11.37 per cent over the previous month and by 30.42 per cent over the same month of last year to US$ 343.51 million, according to the figures of the General Department of Customs.
The figure brought the country’s total import of apparel, leather and footwear materials in the first seven months of this year to $ 2.11 billion, increased by 19.07 per cent over the same period of 2012.
China was still leading in the list of the country’s main import markets of apparel, leather and footwear materials, accounted for 31.91 per cent of the total. It was followed by South Korea with 19.44 per cent; Taiwan – 11.43 per cent; Hong Kong – 6 per cent; Japan – 5.39 per cent; and the U.S – 4.91 per cent.
In July, the country’s import of apparel, leather and footwear materials rebounded after falling in June. The import from China in July increased by 21.3 per cent over the previous month, bringing the total import from that country in the first seven months of this year to $ 671.78 million, up by 27.05 per cent year – on – year; that from South Korea increased by 11.45 per cent in July and 23.27 per cent in the first seven months to $ 409.34 million; and from Taiwan – up by 1.55 per cent in July and 6.82 per cent in the first seven months to $ 240.62 million.
In the first seven months of this year, the import of apparel, leather and footwear materials from New Zealand saw a sharpest increase of 98 per cent over the same period last year. Besides, the country also increased import of those materials from Australia (up by 50.52 per cent); from Italy (up by 47.71 per cent); from Pakistan (up by 44.01 per cent) and from Argentina (up by 42.98 per cent).
The following is the figures of the General Department of Customs on Vietnam’s main import markets of apparel, leather and footwear materials in the first seven months of 2013.
Unit:US$
|
July of 2013
|
July of 2013 vs. June of 2013(%) | July of 2013 vs. July of 2012(%) | First 7 months of 2013 | First 7 months of 2013 vs. same period of 2012(%) | |
| Total |
343,508,809 |
+11.37 |
+30.42 |
2,105,244,246 |
+19.07 |
| China | 112,064,224 | +21.30 | +43.81 | 671,778,399 | +27.05 |
| South Korea | 74,361,815 | +11.45 | +41.03 | 409,342,712 | +23.27 |
| Taiwan | 34,430,163 | +1.55 | +19.66 | 240,618,518 | +6.82 |
| Hong Kong | 17,906,117 | +18.70 | +10.82 | 126,216,245 | +2.44 |
| Japan | 19,061,347 | +4.80 | -1.65 | 113,446,202 | -6.91 |
| The U.S | 19,609,470 | +24.18 | +26.03 | 103,464,139 | +18.69 |
| Thailand | 11,855,144 | +4.20 | +19.49 | 78,519,348 | +14.92 |
| Italy | 12,168,239 | +1.80 | +94.73 | 70,371,485 | +47.71 |
| India | 5,893,109 | -8.36 | +6.55 | 43,848,185 | +20.35 |
| Brazil | 5,202,033 | -4.31 | -24.69 | 38,477,138 | +14.41 |
| Indonesia | 5,260,031 | +12.89 | +83.73 | 30,268,106 | +33.91 |
| Argentina | 3,446,747 | +1.58 | +13.47 | 21,955,130 | +42.98 |
| New Zealand | 2,585,333 | +28.24 | +26.49 | 18,304,989 | +98.22 |
| Germany | 2,183,439 | +11.46 | -3.28 | 16,498,155 | +20.08 |
| Malaysia | 2,258,881 | +26.64 | +13.98 | 13,326,910 | +2.26 |
| Pakistan | 1,685,741 | +26.84 | +172.28 | 11,417,866 | +44.01 |
| Australia | 2,024,133 | +18.64 | +167.26 | 10,372,400 | +50.62 |
| Spain | 1,368,879 | +50.16 | +14.15 | 9,086,622 | -1.61 |
| Britain | 1,086,761 | -60.63 | +74.30 | 8,663,128 | +31.84 |
| France | 873,731 | +67.91 | -27.25 | 5,204,411 | -23.72 |
| Poland | 63,282 | -84.75 | -86.39 | 3,847,927 | -38.60 |
| Canada | 531,869 | +38.16 | +44.74 | 2,433,416 | -39.97 |
| Singapore | 271,089 | +60.99 | +95.13 | 1,460,470 | -9.97 |
| Austria | 110,516 | -8.86 | -7.74 | 1,028,830 | +11.35 |
| The Netherlands | 101,732 | -35.38 | -8.13 | 990,372 | -5.96 |
The leather and footwear industry should take full advantages of Trans – Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP). TPP is expected to bring several opportunities as well as challenges to our economic sectors, especially leather and footwear industry.
TPP is a free trade agreement between trans – pacific countries with a target of removing 90 per cent upward the tax barriers on goods and services of member countries. The 18th round of talks of TPP saw several progresses and the essential round is started with more difficult and sensitive problems. Vietnam hopes to enjoy preferences from TPP but we must also face with several difficulties.
According to Mr. Mr. Diep Thanh Kiet, vice chairman of Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (Lefaso), TPP will give us a more transparent business environment. However, our enterprises should try their best to take full advantages of it.
Last year, Vietnam’s leather and footwear industry earned US$ 8.7 billion from export, including $ 3.6 billion worth of export to the U.S and Japan, accounted for 41 per cent of the total. Also in 2012, Vietnam exported $ 17.2 billion worth of textiles and garments, including $ 9.5 billion to the U.S, accounted for 55 per cent. Our export of textile and garment products to TPP countries is now valued at roughly $ 10 billion, accounted for 58 per cent of the total. So obviously we most depend on TPP markets.
At present, foreign direct investment enterprises accounted for 75 per cent of the country’s total export in leather and footwear industry. Several foreign investors, including the U.S investors is promoting their projects invested in producing fibers and cloth for TPP. So when their factory is going into operation, we may have enough materials for producing items exported to TPP countries to enjoy the tax rate of 0 per cent.
Lefaso.org.vn