According to data released by General Statistics Office of Ministry of Finance, in the first 8 months of 2026, textile and garment exports reached US$26.897 billion, ranking 4th among the largest export items, including: Electronics, computers and components; machinery, equipment, tools and other spare parts; telephones and components.
However, textile and garment exports only increased by 1.6% compared to the same period in 2025. This result continues to reflect difficulties facing textile and garment businesses.
One of major concerns for businesses in recent months has been the new tariff policy from the United States. 12.5% tariff adds competitive pressure to Vietnam's textile and garment industry compared to other textile and garment exporting countries.
Faced with this pressure, the industry is pursuing two approaches simultaneously: firstly, proposing that the Government soon negotiate with the US; and secondly, proactively expanding export areas through trade promotion activities.
Besides the tariff issue, domestic textile and garment businesses continue to face price pressure. Workwear produced under FOB orders is facing relatively fierce competition. Meanwhile, fashion and sportswear lines are trending towards price reductions and shorter delivery times.
Businesses also face delays in the delivery of raw materials and fabrics. This prolongs production time, affecting synchronization of raw materials and progress of order fulfillment.
Prices of some raw materials, supplies, spare parts and transportation costs also tend to continue rising. These factors add further cost pressure to production.
Regarding orders for the remaining months of the year, some enterprises have orders secured until the end of September and October. Some even have knitting orders sufficient to cover production until the end of 2026. However, overall, progress in securing garment orders for the fourth quarter of 2026 is slower for many businesses.
To expand their markets, businesses have participated in numerous trade fairs, exhibitions, and trade promotion activities. These include the AllFashion Sourcing Cape Town 2026 combined with market research in Africa; the Source Fashion Fair in London combined with market research and promotion in the UK; Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics and Yarn Expo Autumn 2026 – a major fashion industry event in China; and the Magic Show in the US…
Enterprises are also continuing to participate in major specialized trade fairs and exhibitions to find more partners and diversify export markets in the remaining months of the year.
In addition, enterprises continue to monitor developments in tariff policies and order shifts. Work with customers is intensified, businesses are flexible in pricing but prioritize orders with high added value.
Along with that, enterprises continue to closely control supply of raw materials and components; improve labor productivity; save costs, optimize production and maintain a stable workforce.

Source: Vitic/ congthuong.vn