Domestic firms shipped over 1.37 billion medical face masks of various types abroad throughout 2020, according to statics compiled by the General Department of Vietnam Customs. 

December alone witnessed over 30 major local businesses ship medical face masks overseas, with the total export volume reaching approximately 71 million units, representing a sharp decline of 59% compared to figures from November.

The volume of export activities returned to normal after May, 2020, following a resolution implemented by the Government regarding licensing for the export of medical face masks, with items being granted permission to be exported without facing any caps on export quantity.

After these changes came into effect, the country exported more than 181 million and 236 million medical masks in May and June, respectively. Despite this, the export volume of medical masks during July and August endured a downward trajectory caused by a second wave of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the nation.

These drops saw the country export 153.82 million units in July and 135.44 million units in August, representing falls of 34.9% and 11.9% respectively.

Following this period, September witnessed the recovery of medical mask exports with 142.88 million units shipped abroad, a rise of 5.5%, with growth momentum being successfully maintained in October and November, with the export of 143.33 million units and roughly 173 million units, respectively.