Vietnam’s export of footwear to Thailand has increased sharply in thepast four years, jumping from 6.6 million USD in 2010 to 25.87 millionUSD in 2013.
According to the General Department of VietnamCustoms, in January 2014 Vietnam shipped 2.01 million USD worth offootwear to Thailand and since 2012, the country’s monthly footwearexport value to Thailand has stood at above 1 million USD on average.
Thailand has become one of Vietnam’s four largest footwearimporters in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), thedepartment said.
Nguyen Van Khanh, Chairman of the Leather andFootwear Association in District 4, Ho Chi Minh City, said that Vietnamwill have chances to ink more contracts with Thailand in thelabour-intensive sector, as the partner country will stop producing itsown footwear some time in the future.
Apart from a shortage oflabour, Thailand is facing challenges posed by the unstable Baht, highlabour cost and fierce competition from other producers, Khanh said.
He added that many small-and medium-sized footwear producers inThailand have had to suspend operation and to export materials toforeign countries, including Vietnam.
Currently, several Thaibusinesses are seeking to bring their production lines to other marketswith cheaper labour costs, experts said, noting this could be anopportunity for Vietnamese footwear.
Several months ago, adelegation of 30 Thai businesses operating in the sector visited Vietnamto seek long-term investment opportunities.
KanchitJuntanapornchai, Chairman of the Association of Thai Footwear IndustrialPromotion, said a number of Thai businesses wish to import Vietnamesefootwear to service domestic and export demands.
He suggestedVietnam take advantage of uncertainty in the sector in other countriesby improving the quality of its own services and products.
According to Diep Thanh Kiet, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Leather andFootwear Association, Thailand boasts a strong footwear industry as thecountry not only sells products of well-known brand names and importersworldwide but also establishes distribution networks in foreigncountries.-VNA
According to the General Department of VietnamCustoms, in January 2014 Vietnam shipped 2.01 million USD worth offootwear to Thailand and since 2012, the country’s monthly footwearexport value to Thailand has stood at above 1 million USD on average.
Thailand has become one of Vietnam’s four largest footwearimporters in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), thedepartment said.
Nguyen Van Khanh, Chairman of the Leather andFootwear Association in District 4, Ho Chi Minh City, said that Vietnamwill have chances to ink more contracts with Thailand in thelabour-intensive sector, as the partner country will stop producing itsown footwear some time in the future.
Apart from a shortage oflabour, Thailand is facing challenges posed by the unstable Baht, highlabour cost and fierce competition from other producers, Khanh said.
He added that many small-and medium-sized footwear producers inThailand have had to suspend operation and to export materials toforeign countries, including Vietnam.
Currently, several Thaibusinesses are seeking to bring their production lines to other marketswith cheaper labour costs, experts said, noting this could be anopportunity for Vietnamese footwear.
Several months ago, adelegation of 30 Thai businesses operating in the sector visited Vietnamto seek long-term investment opportunities.
KanchitJuntanapornchai, Chairman of the Association of Thai Footwear IndustrialPromotion, said a number of Thai businesses wish to import Vietnamesefootwear to service domestic and export demands.
He suggestedVietnam take advantage of uncertainty in the sector in other countriesby improving the quality of its own services and products.
According to Diep Thanh Kiet, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Leather andFootwear Association, Thailand boasts a strong footwear industry as thecountry not only sells products of well-known brand names and importersworldwide but also establishes distribution networks in foreigncountries.-VNA
