Key Insights
Essential data points from our research
Vietnam's garment and textile exports reached USD 44 billion in 2022
The textile and garment sector contributed about 16% to Vietnam’s total export turnover in 2022
In 2022, Vietnam was the third-largest garment exporter in the world, only after China and the EU
The US imported over 46% of Vietnam’s total garment exports in 2022
Vietnam's garment exports to the US totaled more than USD 18 billion in 2022
Exports to the EU increased by 27% in 2022, reaching nearly USD 4 billion
The Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) helped reduce 42% of tariff lines for textile and garment exports
Vietnam's textile and garment industry employed approximately 2.5 million people in 2022
In 2021, Vietnam's garment exports were USD 39 billion, ranking second globally in terms of export revenue
Vietnam exported textiles and garments to over 100 countries and territories in 2022
Japan was Vietnam’s third-largest garment export market in 2022, with nearly USD 4 billion
South Korea imported over USD 3.3 billion in garments from Vietnam in 2022
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) helped boost Vietnam’s exports by 19% in key member nations
Export Performance
- Vietnam's garment and textile exports reached USD 44 billion in 2022
- Vietnam's garment exports to the US totaled more than USD 18 billion in 2022
- In 2021, Vietnam's garment exports were USD 39 billion, ranking second globally in terms of export revenue
- Vietnam's yarn exports reached USD 5.5 billion in 2022
- Vietnam's average export unit price for garments rose by 12% in 2022
- From 2010 to 2022, Vietnam’s garment export revenue increased 3x from USD 13.1 billion to USD 44 billion
- Garments are one of Vietnam’s top five export commodities in 2022
- Vietnam exported USD 6.15 billion in textiles and apparel in Q1 2022, up 20% YoY
- Garment exports fell by 15% in the first half of 2023 due to declining global demand
- Vietnam's garment exports to the UK reached USD 953 million in 2022
- The Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association predicts exports could reach USD 45 billion by 2025
- The average export value per Vietnamese garment worker is USD 16,300/year
- Vietnam's top garment export category is knitwear, accounting for 32% of exports
- Vietnam exported over 2 billion garment units in 2022
- Vietnam exported garments worth USD 12.6 billion in the first five months of 2022
- Vietnam’s apparel exports to Australia rose 24% in 2022
- Vietnam's textile export growth CAGR from 2010–2022 was over 10%
- Vietnam's exports of eco-friendly garments increased 34% in 2022
- Vietnam sent 169,000 containers of garments overseas in 2022
- In 2022, average order lead time for Vietnamese garment factories was 45 days
- Vietnam’s technical textile exports reached USD 630 million in 2022
- Vietnam exported USD 3.5 billion in workwear and uniforms in 2022
Interpretation
From yarn to knitwear and eco-friendly threads, Vietnam’s garment industry has stitched its way into a $44 billion export empire in 2022—tripling in just over a decade—proving that fashion isn’t just fast, it’s fiercely strategic.
Government Policies and Investment
- Over USD 3 billion was invested in modern equipment for Vietnam’s textile sector between 2020 and 2022
- Garment sector wage reform aims to bridge gap with productivity
- Investment from South Korea in Vietnam’s textile sector exceeds USD 4 billion
- 25% of Vietnam’s garment firms are investing in digital transformation
- The Vietnamese government approved a USD 130 million package to upgrade garment infrastructure in 2022
Interpretation
Vietnam’s garment industry is stitching together a high-tech future with billions in foreign investment, digital upgrades, and wage reforms—proving it's not just about cheaper labor, but smarter production.
Industry Contribution and Economic Impact
- The textile and garment sector contributed about 16% to Vietnam’s total export turnover in 2022
- Vietnam's textile and garment industry employed approximately 2.5 million people in 2022
- Vietnamese garment industry’s productivity remains at 60–70% of developed countries’
- The Vietnamese textile and garment industry’s localization rate reached approximately 55% in 2022
- Average labor cost in Vietnam’s garment sector is USD 250/month in 2022
- Total number of garment firms in Vietnam was over 6,000 as of 2022
- 50% of Vietnam’s textile manufacturers are located in the southern region
- Women comprise about 80% of the labor force in the garment industry
- Over 30% of Vietnam’s textiles and garments are manufactured in Ho Chi Minh City
- Digitization of garment processes grew 35% from 2021 to 2022 in Vietnam
- Vietnam’s textile sector energy consumption rose by 9% in 2022
- Vietnam produced 5.8 billion meters of fabric in 2022
- Vietnam’s textile sector accounted for 12% of all manufacturing jobs in 2022
- Most companies in Vietnam’s garment sector are SMEs, making up 85% of the industry
- Garment exports represented 80% of TVET-graduate employment in textile sector
Interpretation
While stitching together 16% of the nation’s exports and employing 2.5 million—mostly women—the Vietnamese garment industry runs on modest wages, mid-level productivity, and rising digitization, proving that even with small stitches and smaller firms, it weaves an outsized impact on the national economy.
International Trade and Markets
- In 2022, Vietnam was the third-largest garment exporter in the world, only after China and the EU
- The US imported over 46% of Vietnam’s total garment exports in 2022
- Exports to the EU increased by 27% in 2022, reaching nearly USD 4 billion
- The Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) helped reduce 42% of tariff lines for textile and garment exports
- Vietnam exported textiles and garments to over 100 countries and territories in 2022
- Japan was Vietnam’s third-largest garment export market in 2022, with nearly USD 4 billion
- South Korea imported over USD 3.3 billion in garments from Vietnam in 2022
- The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) helped boost Vietnam’s exports by 19% in key member nations
- Vietnam's fabric imports dropped 15% in volume in 2022 due to increased local production
- 70% of garment production in Vietnam is for export markets
- Bangladesh rivals Vietnam closely, but Vietnam exports more complex textile products
- Vietnam exported USD 1.2 billion in textile and garment products to China in 2022
- Vietnamese garments had a 20.1% share in US apparel imports in 2022
- Vietnam’s Free Trade Agreements cover over 50 markets, easing garment exports globally
- Vietnam imported USD 13 billion worth of raw textile materials in 2022
- Most raw materials for garments come from China (about 60%)
- Vietnam's garment exports to Canada grew 18% in 2022 owing to CPTPP
- Non-tariff barriers in the EU affect 19% of Vietnam’s textile exports
- Vietnam’s garment exports to ASEAN were worth USD 900 million in 2022
- Vietnam's garment exports made up 5.8% of total world apparel exports in 2022
- Vietnam’s textile exports to Mexico exceeded USD 500 million in 2022
Interpretation
Fueled by free trade deals, rising global demand, and homegrown production gains, Vietnam has tailored itself into a textile titan—stitching together complex, high-value exports for over 100 markets while threading the needle between global competition and local supply chain transformation.
Sustainability and Certification
- In 2022, 55% of Vietnam’s garment factories had sustainability certifications like WRAP or ISO
- 60% of Vietnam’s textile firms use wastewater treatment
- Vietnam's compliance rate with international labor standards in textile factories is around 75%
- Nearly 1,000 Vietnamese garment firms are certified under SA8000 or BSCI
Interpretation
Vietnam’s garment industry may still have stitches to tighten, but with over half its factories certified for sustainability, rising wastewater treatment, and a growing chorus of labor compliance, the fabric of responsibility is clearly being woven in.