Textile products is listed in top 10 major export products of Vietnam, according to statistics from the Customs Department, until October 2020, Vietnam’s total export volume for textiles reach 24,73 billion USD, while the total import volume for this product reach 17,40 billion USD. The fast pace growth of Vietnam’s economy alongside with EVFTA (free trade pact between Vietnam and the EU) went into full effect in January 2020 has plays a major role in the increase of Vietnam’s textile export. Furthermore, the growth in trade volume between Vietnam and the U.S – the trade partner with huge demand for textiles is boosting up Vietnam’s textiles export. Taking advantage of this, many textiles manufacturers alongside export - import enterprises now wants to join in the international market or increase their products volume.

In the article below, the procedure for export and import. Enterprise can find valuable information in the export and import procedure for textiles.

Textiles is a major export product of Vietnam and this industry is one of Vietnam’s strongest. Currently, this product is having tax favor from the government as a part of government’s policy to boost up textiles export (government). In which, ASEAN’s market, China’s market, North America’s market (with the U.S as the main trade partner), Japan’s market, and Europe’s market (the EU) are main export market for Vietnam’s textiles. Alongside this, Vietnam also import large volume of foreign textiles. In which, materials for textiles manufacture and luxury fashion products are major import. Different from the pre 2007 period, when Vietnam’s textiles were mostly processing, with bad quality control and loose procedure, now, the procedure has been tighten and quality has been increased dramatically. It worth to take note that, with textiles, the quality control and publishing standard is the responsibility of the Ministry of  Industry and Trade (BCT). The inspection agency for textiles has to be approved by the Ministry. This is important for enterprises working in the textiles industry.
After BCT published Circular No 37/2015/TT-BCT (October 30^th, 2015) regulate on the limitation for testing formaldehyde and aromatic amino convert from azoic dyes in textiles product, according to Law on product quality, goods (December 21^st, 2007), the base quality for Vietnam’s textiles has been improved. The procedure for textiles quality control and punishment of violations is now finished. In reality, the quality control for textiles has been tighten more since 2020, since the free trade pact between Vietnam and the EU goes into full effect (EVFTA). Decree No 132/2008/NĐ-CP, regulate in details the implementation of Law on product quality, goods and Decree No 80/2013/NĐ-CP of government regulates on punishment for administrative violation in standard, measurement and products’ quality, goods is the current legal structure for quality control of textiles.

The export – import of textiles in reality is not complicated. However, due to the tighten on quality control, especially for chemicals used in the manufacture process, textiles enterprise will have to take a close watch on the legal process, procedure and required documents. It worth to take note that, after EVFTA goes into full effect, Vietnam’s textiles export to European Union (the EU) with a condition that the materials are produced in Vietnam. Moreover, according to EVFTA, manufacturers can use import materials from The Korea for export products to the EU and can still have tax favor from EVFTA, the final products must belong to Chapter 61 and Chapter 62 of the tax returns (EVFTA).
In term of procedure, firstly, to export or import textiles in Vietnam, products will have to submit to the conformity certification. The procedure for conformity certification (silk, clothes…) is as followed:
•             Submit to the conformity certification according to given form of the inspection Agency approved by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
•             The textiles inspection Agency begins the testing, guide for taking sample of textiles, silk, eg and sending sample of the shipment (can be done at the terminal, ICD or at the wraehouse).
•             Getting the conformity certificate.
Enterprises have to take note that the certificate is for each shipment only.
After submitting the conformity certificate, enterprise will have to submit for the export – import Customs procedure. The procedure will require documents as follow: