Footwear Heads for North America

In spite of incurring 10 per cent antidumping tax on leather-capped shoes, Vietnamese leather and footwear export is estimated to expand strongly in 2007, especially in North American markets.

The EU imposition of 10 per cent antidumping tax on Vietnamese shoes seriously affected Vietnamese shoemakers. In 2006, they were able to bring in US$3.591 billion instead of expected US$3.7-3.8 billion. However, the antidumping case made a great change in Vietnamese export structure, with less reliance on the EU market.

 

Many companies focused on the home market and new markets like the US, Mexico and Peru, which do not apply quotas on Vietnamese shoes. Besides, Vietnamese shoemakers also had better sources of materials and applied new technologies to reduce unit prices, shorten working times and ensure punctual deliveries. 

 

At present, the North America and the EU remain the world-largest shoe importer. In 2007, the Vietnamese leather and footwear industry targets to increase shipments to the North America to 40 per cent and reduce the deliveries to the EU to 40 per cent from 48 per cent. Japan, South America, the Middle East, South Africa and Australia are also potential big markets for Vietnam.