The textile and garment industry needs to strengthen supply chain linkages
This message was delivered by Mr. Trần Ngọc Liêm, Director of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Ho Chi Minh City Branch (VCCI – HCM), at the opening ceremony of SaigonTex 2025.
Mr. Trần Ngọc Liêm, Director of VCCI – HCM, stated that the textile and garment industry is among Vietnam’s top 8 export items, each with a value exceeding USD 10 billion. – Photo: Đình Đại.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Trần Ngọc Liêm emphasized that textile and garment is one of Vietnam’s leading industries, making significant contributions to both domestic and international trade growth while also attracting foreign investment over the years.
In terms of trade, according to Mr. Liêm, Vietnam's import and export activities in 2024 achieved many notable milestones, reflecting a strong post-pandemic economic recovery and the country’s continued growth efforts amidst global uncertainty. The total trade turnover in 2024 reached over USD 786.29 billion, up 15.4% compared to the same period last year. Of this, exports reached USD 405.53 billion (up 14.3%) and imports totaled USD 380.76 billion (up 16.7%).
Mr. Liêm highlighted that the textile and garment sector played a key role in this success, achieving USD 44 billion in export value (an increase of 11.26% compared to 2023). It remains among the top 8 export sectors and helped Vietnam surpass Bangladesh to become the world’s second-largest textile and garment exporter, behind only China. Major export markets by proportion include: the United States (37.98%), the EU (9.77%), South Korea (8.93%), China (8.3%), and ASEAN (6.59%). On the import side, the sector recorded approximately USD 25 billion in imports, up 14.79%, resulting in a trade surplus of USD 19 billion – a 6.93% increase from 2023.
“The domestic market has also grown significantly over the past 25 years, from just over USD 300 million to around USD 4.5 billion. In 2025, the Ministry of Industry and Trade targets overall export growth of 10–12% compared to 2024, with the textile and garment sector aiming for USD 47–48 billion in exports,” Mr. Liêm added.
Regarding foreign direct investment, as of the end of 2024, Vietnam had 42,002 valid FDI projects with total registered capital nearing USD 502.8 billion, of which nearly USD 322.5 billion has been disbursed—equivalent to 64.1% of the total. In the textile and garment sector alone, there are about 3,500 FDI projects with total investment exceeding USD 37 billion. The FDI sector plays a crucial role, contributing about 65% of the industry’s total export value. The top foreign investors in Vietnam’s textile and garment sector include South Korea, Taiwan (China), China, Japan, and India.
Despite the significant achievements in both trade and investment, Mr. Liêm noted that the textile and garment industry still faces major challenges in the coming time. These include labor shortages, unpredictable orders, requirements regarding the origin of materials under FTAs, and new trade barriers in traditional markets.
SaigonTex 2025 is taking place from April 9–12 at SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. The event is co-organized by VCCI-HCM, the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS), the Ho Chi Minh City Association of Garment, Textile, Embroidery and Knitting (AGTEK), the Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex), CP Exhibition Ltd (Hong Kong), and the Organizing Company. – Photo: Đình Đại.
To overcome these challenges, Mr. Liêm emphasized that textile and garment enterprises need to strengthen value chain integration, adopt technology, automation, and green practices in their factories—from raw materials to energy sources—and participate more deeply in the global textile supply chain. Specifically, from now until 2030, the industry will transition from rapid growth to sustainable development. From 2031–2035, the focus will be on effective sustainable growth based on the circular economy model; completing the domestic value chain and securing a high-value position in the global supply chain.
“As the largest and most influential exhibition in Vietnam’s textile and garment industry, SaigonTex – HanoiTex has, over the past 35 years, served as a platform to showcase the achievements of the Vietnamese textile sector—from raw materials and machinery to finished products. It is also a hub for both domestic and international businesses to find partners and explore business opportunities,” said Mr. Trần Ngọc Liêm, Director of VCCI – HCM.
He also noted that, as the national trade and investment promotion agency, VCCI-HCM has continuously collaborated with the organizers and relevant agencies to actively promote the exhibition. This year, SaigonTex – SaigonFabric 2025 brings together over 1,100 exhibitors from 25 countries and territories, all of whom are reputable global textile suppliers. Mr. Liêm expressed confidence that the event offers not only a valuable opportunity for exhibitors to present their technologies and products to the Vietnamese and international markets, but also a chance for visitors to gain market insights and explore new business opportunities.
Source: VCCI
