By the end of the month the country had exported 711 million masks to the U.S., Europe, Singapore, South Korea, and other markets since the Covid-19 pandemic began early this year.

The government started allowing unlimited exports of masks since the end of April to help businesses take advantage of the high demand for them as the disease spread rapidly.

Industry insiders now say demand is falling since many countries have been able to contain the pandemic.

Nguyen Van Thoi, chairman of garment company TNG in the northern province of Thai Nguyen, said last month his company had ceased production of masks.

Other garment producers have also done so and gone back to their normal products.