Apparel exports increase 19% in Jan-Feb
Apparel exports increase 19% in Jan-Feb
Vietnam exported US$4.89 billion worth of textile and garment products in the first two months of the year, marking a year-on-year increase of 19%, news site Vietnamplus reported, citing statistics from the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Some 89.5 million square meters of woven fabric made from natural fibers was shipped to other countries in the two-month period, up 13.8% over the year-ago period. Meanwhile, artificial and synthetic fiber exports grew by 13.5% to 164 million square meters, and clothes were up 10.7%, at 773.9 million items.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, many textile and garment enterprises have secured export orders enough for production until the end of the second quarter, even the end of the year.
Foreign investors have helped improve supply chains in the local apparel sector, creating products with high competitiveness.
Le Tien Truong, general director of Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group, stated that last year was remarkable for the local textile and garment sector as the country’s exports of textile and garment products had reached nearly US$36.2 billion last year, up over 16% versus 2017.
To achieve a growth rate of 8% this year, the local textile and garment sector should improve the working conditions for workers, improve productivity and reduce production costs, Truong stressed.
In addition, links among enterprises operating in the sector are important to make full use of opportunities brought by free trade pacts, such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.
