Although Viet Nam’s apparel exports to the US in the first quarter of the year declined about 4 per cent, total export turnover to the market in the first four months of the year increased 2 per cent from the same period last year, said deputy general secretary of the Viet Nam Textile and Apparel Association, Nguyen Son.

With the increase, Viet Nam became one of four countries worldwide to see a growth in apparel exports in the first four months of the year, Son said.

The reduction in the first quarter was attributed to the US recession, Son said, adding that most other major apparel exporters suffered much higher decreases.

China, for instance, reported a reduction of 11 per cent in apparel exports in the first two months.

Domestic apparel exporters expect to gain in the US market during the next few months as US importers resume the apparel imports.

Industry insiders revealed that apparel exports had partly rebounded since April as domestic exporters received more export contracts.

Son also said that domestic apparel exporters had recently started recruiting workers again.

To gain more import contracts from US importers, Vitas urged domestic apparel exporters to enhance their competitiveness in terms of price and quality of service.

According to Vitas statistics, Viet Nam’s apparel industry gained US$2.6 billion from exports in the first four months of the year, up 2 per cent year-on-year, due to a sharp increase in export volume to major markets such as China and other countries in South east Asia.