Textile exports to fall for the first time in 25 years

The 15-percent decrease, however, is still lower than the 20-25 percent plunge in global demand this year, it said, adding that domestic companies have been making efforts to pump up revenue by producing lower-added value products to ensure cash flow.

However experts said that the recently-signed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is likely to boost China’s demand for garments made in Vietnam.

Japan is another potential market. The East Asian giant requires Vietnamese companies to prove their products are sourced from other ASEAN countries or from Japan to enjoy incentive tariffs while most of Vietnamese products are made from materials imported from China.

Besides, the scrapping of tariffs on many textile and garment exports to the E.U. thanks to the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement  will push the sector’s growth./.