In 2018, Vietnam exported $30.4 billion of textiles and garments, up 16% year on year. Import volumes of cotton totaled 1.56 million tons, up 20% from 2017, and that of fabric climbed up by 11.14% to $12.7 billion. For cotton imports, the import origins in 2018 have obvious differences compared with 2017. The import proportion of Brazilian cotton has risen to take the third place. The import proportion was 54% of US cotton (down by 3%), 16.7% of Indian cotton, 13.2% of Brazilian cotton and 12.3% of Australian cotton.
I. Imports and exports to hit a 3-year high in 2018
In Jan 2019, export value of textiles and garments reached $2.65 billion in Vietnam, a decrease of 4.3% month on month, but up 6.4% year on year.
In 2018, Vietnam’s textile industry kept high growth. Its export value of textiles and garments amounted to $3.04 billion, up 16% year on year. The growth rate rose by 6%.
Cotton imports in Jan 2019 are assessed at 150kt, an increase of 4.3% year on year and 27.4% month on month.
In 2018, cotton imports totaled 1.56 million tons, up 20% month on month, and the growth rate decreased by 4.5%.
II. Imports of Brazilian and Indian cotton up by 47% and 33%
In Nov and Dec, 2018, Vietnam mainly imported US and Brazilian cotton, and the import volumes of Indian cotton reduced apparently. It was mainly attributed to the influence of Sino-US trade war and the expectation of allocation of additional quotas in China. China procured much Australian and Brazilian cotton, so the import of Vietnam has changed much since Oct 2018. US cotton, with the lower basis, imported much in end period of 2018 in Vietnam.
| Cotton imports of Vietnam and unit prices in Dec, 2018 |
| Origins | Volumes (ton) | Yearly change | Monthly change | Unit price (cent/lb) |
| U.S. | 35,874 | 32% | 6% | 87.9 |
| Brazil | 26,609 | -36% | -12% | 92.1 |
| Australia | 19,562 | 308% | 3% | 94.9 |
| India | 15,943 | -24% | 92% | 76.5 |
| Argentina | 4,726 | 1911% | 198% | 81.2 |
| Cote d'ivoire | 1,325 | 1820% | -16% | 86.9 |
| Indonesia | 830 | 27% | 0% | 50 |
| South Korea | 186 | -21% | 63% | 95.9 |
| Pakistan | 145 | -89% | -88% | 116.9 |
| Mainland China | 108 | 86% | 104% | 67.7 |
| Taiwan China | 18 | / | -49% | 42.2 |
| Other | 12,409 | 53% | 63% | 83.7 |
In 2018, Vietnam imported 744.4kt of US cotton, up by 17.29% year on year, 226.7kt of Indian cotton, up 33.1%, 181.6kt of Brazilian cotton, up 47.35% and 170.7kt of Australian cotton, up 11.54%.
The import origins of cotton in 2018 have obvious differences compared to 2017. Imports of Brazilian cotton rose to the third place. The import proportion was 54% of US cotton (down by 3%), 16.7% of Indian cotton, 13.2% of Brazilian cotton and 12.3% of Australian cotton.
In terms of unit price, prices have fallen down generally since October 2018. Compared with Cotlook A Index, the imported cotton prices in Vietnam lagged behind about one to two months, which was related to the booking date and shipment.
