Vietnam's Footwear Exports Reach $20.24 Billion in First 10 Months of 2026

Vietnam's footwear industry maintained a positive export trend during the first ten months of 2026, although growth remained relatively slow amid changing global demand and increasing dependence on a few major markets. With shipments approaching the US$21 billion mark, the industry is looking to strengthen its international market presence while addressing growing trade uncertainties.

According to preliminary statistics from Vietnam's Customs Department, footwear exports reached US$20.24 billion between January and October 2026, representing a 1.8% increase compared with the same period last year.

October brought some improvement to the industry's overall export performance. Combined shipments of leather goods, footwear and handbags exceeded US$2.64 billion, rising 17.32% from September and 6.73% year-on-year. However, the footwear-specific October export figure was not separately provided.

The United States continued to dominate Vietnam's footwear export market. During the first nine months of 2026, shipments to the US reached US$8.91 billion, up 9.19% year-on-year. The country accounted for 40.84% of Vietnam's total footwear export turnover.

The European Union ranked second, with exports valued at US$5.33 billion, an increase of 4.43%. Together, the US and EU absorbed US$14.24 billion worth of Vietnamese footwear, representing 65.29% of total exports during the period. Their combined share was higher than the 62.73% recorded a year earlier.

In contrast, several other important destinations recorded declines. Footwear exports to China fell 18.86%, while shipments to Japan, the UK, Canada and Mexico also registered decreases.

The strong concentration of exports in Western markets highlights the importance of diversifying destinations to reduce exposure to changes in consumer demand and international trade conditions.

Despite the modest growth, Vietnam's footwear sector continues to benefit from its established manufacturing base and strong position in global supply chains. Expanding into emerging markets and strengthening competitiveness will be important for sustaining export growth in the coming years.