Vietnam's textile and apparel export performance in May 2025

Vietnam's textile and apparel sector showed strong performance in finished product exports, especially in value-added apparel, while raw material and intermediate goods imports remained broadly supportive of upstream production. The divergence between apparel and yarn export trends suggests a possible shift toward higher value-added production, aligning with Vietnam's broader strategy to move up the value chain.

In May 2025, Vietnam's exports of textiles and apparel reached USD 3.29 billion, reflecting a 7.1% month-on-month (MoM) increase and a strong 19.0% year-on-year (YoY) growth. For the January–May period, cumulative exports totaled USD 15.06 billion, marking a 12.0% YoY increase, confirming a solid recovery or expansion trend in the sector.

The top three export markets for Vietnam's textile and apparel in May were the United States (48.2%), Japan (9.9%), and the Netherlands (4.6%), which together accounted for 62.7% of the total. Other markets held relatively smaller shares. Compared to the previous month, there were slight changes: South Korea dropped out of the top three, while the U.S. share increased by approximately 3% and the Netherlands by about 0.7%.

Compared with the same period last year, the shares of the U.S., the Netherlands, Germany, and the U.K. increased, while others declined-particularly South Korea, which dropped by 1.0%.

Vietnam's yarn exports in May totaled 155,100 tons, which is around the average level for the same period over the past three years and is considered a relatively high monthly figure.

The top three destinations remained China (49.7%), the United States (13.2%), and South Korea (7.3%). Compared to the same period last year, China's and South Korea's shares declined by 4.6% and 1.8%, respectively, while the shares of the U.S. (up 4.6%) and Taiwan (up 1.9%) increased to 13.2% and 4.2%, respectively.

Regarding cotton imports, Vietnam imported 163,000 tons of cotton in May 2025, up 7.5% year-on-year, making it the third-largest single-month import volume since 2022, slightly below the February 2025 peak of 173,000 tons, indicating continued high cotton import levels.

Vietnam mainly imported cotton from theUnited States (66.5%),Brazil (24.8%), India (4.0%), and Australia (2.4%) in May. Compared to the same period last year, U.S. cotton imports increased by 26.6%, while Brazil's share declined by 20.5%.

In summary, Vietnam's major textile and apparel import and export activities remained robust in May, with cotton imports continuing at high levels. If current trends persist, Vietnam's cotton imports in 2025 could reach a record high. However, it's also worth noting that the U.S. plays a dominant role in both Vietnam's textile and apparel export markets and its cotton import sources. In the context of potential U.S. tariff increases on Vietnamese goods, Vietnam's textile and apparel trade with the U.S. not only held steady but even increased compared to the previous month, indicating a high level of dependence on the U.S., and highlighting the country's economic and political sensitivity to U.S. policies.