Vietnam textile exports rise amid weak Q2 garment orders

Vietnam textile exports weak orders

Jan-Apr 2026 Vietnam Textile Export Overall Performance

Despite steady year-on-year export growth in the first four months, Vietnam’s textile and garment sector now faces obvious downward pressure on new orders. First of all, official data released by the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS) shows the country’s textile and garment export value hit 14.53 billion USD, with a 4.3% year-on-year increase. Specifically, yarn and fiber exports saw strong growth of 20.1% to 2.62 billion USD. In contrast, finished garment exports only edged up 1.3% to 11.9 billion USD. In terms of overseas markets, Vietnam still holds a 21.4% share in the US import market. Even so, industry insiders warn the growth cannot hide underlying industry risks.

Global Demand Slump Leads to Sharp Q2 Order Reduction

Above all, shrinking global consumer demand has become the core trouble for local garment manufacturers. Dai Doan Ket Newspaper quoted Nguyen Hung Quy from Vinatex Southern Corporation. He pointed out that buyers are slowing new order placements; some even cut back or cancel existing orders directly. Predictions show Q2 order volumes will fall 20–25% year-on-year. In addition, raw material supply chains imported from China keep suffering delivery delays. As a result, factories have to arrange overtime work to catch tight shipment deadlines.

Industry Paradox: Positive Revenue vs Unstable Market Outlook

Furthermore, Le Tien Truong, chairman of VINATEX, mentioned a confusing industry paradox. On one hand, export turnover maintained growth from January to April. On the other hand, major importing markets show unstable macroeconomics and falling consumer demand. Even orders locked in for Q3 remain full of uncertainties. In short, the biggest difficulty is not only winning orders, but handling unpredictable market volatility. Looking ahead to the rest of 2026, VINATEX General Director Cao Huu Hieu stated widespread market uncertainties will impact production and revenue greatly. Therefore, textile firms need to optimize Q2 production efficiency to lay foundations for year-end growth. Meanwhile, enterprises must track market changes and launch countermeasures quickly. Hieu also suggested factories seize low raw material prices to boost profits and keep close track of global market trends.

VITAS Proposes Industrial Restructuring for Full-Year Export Target

To hit the annual export target of nearly 50 billion USD, VITAS Chairman Vu Duc Giang put forward clear industry adjustment plans. Instead of merely retaining existing orders in the second half of the year, the whole sector must push deep restructuring covering markets, products and production technology. Moreover, diversifying export markets and customer groups should be the core long-term strategy for Vietnam’s textile and garment foreign trade.