Footwear production at Viet Anh Company. Photo courtesy of Vietnam News Agency.

Preliminary statistics from Vietnam Customs show that footwear exports in August fell 9% from the previous month and 4% compared to August 2024 to nearly $2 billion.

Cumulatively, in the first eight months, footwear exports totaled more than $16.08 billion, up 7.6% year-on-year.

The U.S. remained the largest market, with imports exceeding $6.07 billion, accounting for 37.8% of Vietnam's total and rising 8.9% compared to the same period of 2024.

The Netherlands ranked second (over $1.17 billion, 7.3%, up 11.4%), followed by China (nearly $1.12 billion, 7%, down 15.1%).

These three markets alone spent over $8 billion importing footwear from Vietnamese suppliers.

Other major markets with valus below $1 billion include Japan (nearly $803.03 million, 5%, up 11.9%), and Belgium (nearly $796.03 million, 4.95%, down 3%).

Vietnam’s footwear exports to most markets recorded growth in the eight months compared to the same period last year.

The footwear industry is considered to have effectively capitalized on opportunities from Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to accelerate exports and benefit from preferential tariffs. Notable FTAs include the EVFTA, UKVFTA, VKFTA, and especially the ASEAN-China FTA.

Last year, Vietnam’s total leather and footwear exports reached $27.12 billion, up 12.9% from 2023 and accounting for 6.7% of the country’s total export turnover.

Of this, footwear alone contributed $22.9 billion, up 13% and making up 84.3%. Meanwhile, handbags, suitcases, hats, and umbrellas reached $4.25 billion, up 12.5%.

Exports to the U.S. alone amounted to $8.3 billion in 2024, up 15.7% and accounting for 36.2% of total footwear exports.

The EU ranked second with $5.7 billion, up 18.6% and making up 25%. Within the EU, notable markets included Belgium ($1.3 billion, up 9.5%), the Netherlands (nearly $1.7 billion, up 66.3%), and Germany ($767.6 million, down 18.6%).

Other markets included China ($1.9 billion, up 2.3%), Japan ($1.1 billion, up 3.8%), the UK ($995.4 million, up 25.3%), South Korea ($660.4 million, up 5.4%), Canada ($542.7 million, up 15.6%), Mexico ($538.9 million, up 26.7%), and the UAE ($220.4 million, up 1.9%).

As for footwear materials and accessories, ASEAN countries were Vietnam's main export markets. Vietnam’s export turnover of these items to ASEAN hit $873 million in 2024, accounting for 39.2% of the total and up 24.3% year-on-year.

Indonesia and Cambodia were the two key destinations, with $383 million and $372 million respectively, making up 43.8% and 42.6% of Vietnam’s total exports of footwear materials to ASEAN.

Vietnam is currently a major production hub for many global brands such as Nike, Adidas, Puma, Saucony, and Brooks.

Vietnam remained Nike’s largest manufacturing base globally for the third fiscal year running, according to the U.S. sportswear giant’s annual report for fiscal year 2025 ending in May.

In footwear production, Vietnam accounted for 51% of Nike’s total output, up slightly from 50% a year earlier. Indonesia and China followed with 28% and 17%, respectively.

Nike sources its footwear from 97 finished factories across 11 countries, operated by 15 contract manufacturers.