In the first eight months of 2026, exports of textiles and garments from Vietnam reached US $26.897 billion, a modest 1.6% increase compared to the same period last year.
These growth figures clearly reflect the difficulties that textile and garment businesses are facing in Vietnam.
Regarding orders for the remaining months of the year, some businesses have orders booked until the end of September and October.
Some even have knitting orders sufficient to last until the end of 2026. However, overall, the progress in finalizing garment orders for the fourth quarter of 2026 is slower for many businesses.
One of the biggest concerns for businesses in recent months has been the new tariff policy from the United States.
The 12.5% tariff adds to the competitive pressure on Vietnamese textiles compared to other textile exporting countries.
Faced with this pressure, the industry is pursuing two approaches simultaneously: firstly, proposing that the government promptly negotiate with the United States; and secondly, proactively expand export markets through trade promotion activities.
Besides tax issues, domestic textile and garment businesses continue to face price pressure. Work safety equipment manufactured on an FOB basis is facing relatively fierce competition.
Meanwhile, fashion and sportswear lines tend to see price reductions and shorter delivery times.
Businesses also face delays in the delivery of raw materials and fabrics. This prolongs production time, affecting the synchronization of raw materials and the progress of order fulfillment.
The prices of some raw materials, supplies, spare parts, and transportation costs are also trending upwards. These factors add further cost pressure to production.
Image courtesy: Dai Bieun Handan
