A positive highlight in September 2025 was that footwear exports to EVFTA member countries rose compared to both the previous month and the same period in 2024. Notably, exports to Romania and Malta recorded the strongest increases. Exports to Romania reached USD4.57 million, soaring 1038.81% from the previous month and 117.26% year-on-year. Exports to Malta reached USD1.50 million, up 1800.56% month-on-month and 74.59% year-on-year.
In contrast, exports to Slovenia fell by 12.85% compared to the previous month and 92.73% year-on-year, with export value amounting to only USD432.85 thousand, accounting for 0.35%.
For the cumulative first nine months of 2025, exports to most EVFTA member markets increased year-on-year. Notably, Sweden and Finland recorded the strongest growth rates, rising 40.85% and 63.17% respectively. Finland continued to be the market with the highest export growth rate, accounting for 0.11%. Conversely, exports to Slovenia and Lithuania experienced the sharpest declines, down 31.64% and 50.97%, respectively — both representing insignificant shares in Vietnam’s export structure to the EU.
Product Structure of Vietnam’s Footwear Exports to EVFTA Member Markets
According to Customs data, the largest category of Vietnam’s footwear exports to EU member countries in the first nine months of 2025 remained:
Footwear with outer soles of rubber, plastic, leather, or composition leather and uppers of textile materials, with export value in September 2025 reaching USD262.94 million, up 39.77% from August 2025 but down 10.71% year-on-year.
For the first nine months, exports of this category reached USD2.07 billion, up 11.84% year-on-year and accounting for 46.86% of Vietnam’s total footwear exports to EVFTA markets.
Within this category, sports footwear, tennis shoes, basketball shoes, gym shoes, training shoes, and similar types recorded the highest export value, reaching USD1.32 billion, up 20.03% year-on-year, accounting for 29.74%.
Table. Key Footwear Export Categories to the EU in September 2025 and the First Nine Months of 2025
(Values in Thousand USD)

Product Category	Sept 2025 Value	vs Aug 2025 (%)	vs Sept 2024 (%)	9M 2025 Value	vs 9M 2024 (%)	Market Share (%)
Total exports	507,850	26.29	20.54	4,421,784	9.03	100.00
Footwear with outer soles of rubber, plastic, leather or composition leather and uppers of textile materials	262,939	39.77	-10.71	2,072,188	11.84	46.86
Sports shoes, tennis shoes, basketball shoes, gym/training footwear and similar types	170,405	47.11	-4.56	1,315,162	20.03	29.74
Footwear with outer soles of leather or composition leather	23	-92.19	-66.63	625	100.76	0.01
Others	92,511	28.52	-20.15	756,401	-0.06	28.52
Footwear with outer soles of rubber, plastic, leather or composition leather and uppers of leather	128,926	6.31	-27.74	1,286,494	-10.44	29.09
High-top footwear (ankle boots)	16,389	-35.46	-28.18	263,472	-7.03	5.96
Footwear with spikes, cleats or similar attachments	3,025	67.00	99.21	20,422	22.46	0.46
Footwear with metal-toe caps	—	-100.00	—	5,918	-24.97	0.13
Leather outer-sole high-top footwear	—	-100.00	—	1,319	-39.35	0.03
Ski boots	8	—	—	72	97.01	0.00
Other footwear with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastic	105,086	23.86	-16.18	497,879	-5.19	11.26
Wrestling shoes	16,716	99.56	-24.03	66,820	-19.70	1.51
High-cut footwear (above the ankle)	9,289	-11.86	23.24	63,928	-10.52	1.45
Winter/snow sports footwear	1,631	-51.62	333.44	12,401	42.05	0.28
Footwear with straps or fasteners attaching uppers to soles	101	362.29	1.53	248	61.06	0.01
Waterproof footwear (rubber/plastic)	124	-46.05	-44.88	1,193	144.19	0.03
Plastic footwear – Crocs brand	113	-43.37	186.93	873	232.14	0.02
Women’s sandals/slippers	11	-63.71	-94.08	320	41.70	0.01

Additional Notes on Category Rankings
Ranked second in terms of export share is the category footwear with outer soles of rubber, plastic, leather or composition leather and uppers of leather, with export value of USD128.93 million in September 2025 — up 6.31% month-on-month but down 27.74% year-on-year.
Cumulatively for the first nine months, exports of this category reached USD1.29 billion, down 10.44% compared to the same period in 2024 and accounting for 29.09% of Vietnam’s total footwear exports to EVFTA markets.
Within this group, while most product categories saw year-on-year declines, footwear with spikes/cleats and ski boots recorded increases of 22.46% and 97.01%, respectively.