2025 Vietnam Clothing Accessories (HS 610990) Export: Market Shift

Key Takeaways

Clothing Accessories, classified under HS Code 610990, exhibited high volatility from January to October 2025.

• Market Pulse: Exports surged to $165.87M in March before plummeting 33.6% by September, driven by U.S. tariff shifts and Vietnam's VAT reforms.
• Structural Shift: Vietnam Clothing Accessories Export reliance on the U.S. (30.8% of value) creates acute market risk, with Japan and South Korea as secondary but underdeveloped hubs.
• Product Logic: HS Code 610990 trade data reveals a commoditized market, with 98% of value tied to two sub-codes (61099020 and 61099030) and unit prices tightly clustered at $4.10–$4.46.

This overview covers the period from January to October 2025 and is based on verified customs data from the yTrade database.

Vietnam Clothing Accessories (HS Code 610990) Key Metrics Trend

Market Trend Summary

The Vietnam Clothing Accessories Export trend for HS Code 610990 opened 2025 with strong momentum, reaching $147.55M in January. Momentum faltered in February but resurged sharply in March to $165.87M. From April onward, exports entered a protracted decline, bottoming at $110.17M by September—a 33.6% drop from the March peak—before a partial recovery to $139.27M in October.

Drivers & Industry Context

The volatile export value for HS Code 610990 was driven by the U.S. tariff policy shift. Shippers front-loaded shipments ahead of the new 20% tariff effective August 7, 2025, causing a Q1 surge [VIZION]. Post-implementation, exports cratered as the higher duty eroded competitiveness. The October rebound may reflect adjusted supply chains and Vietnam's July 1 VAT reform, which expanded the 0% rate for on-spot exports [Vietnam Briefing], partially offsetting tariff impacts.

Table: Vietnam Clothing Accessories Export Trend (Source: yTrade)

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Vietnam HS Code 610990 Export Breakdown

Market Composition & Top Categories

According to yTrade data, Vietnam's export of HS Code 610990 for T-shirts and vests is heavily concentrated, with sub-code 61099020 dominating at 55% of the total export value. Sub-code 61099030 follows with a 43% value share, while 61099010 represents a minor segment at just 2%. This structure highlights a focused Vietnam HS Code 610990 export profile, where two main sub-codes account for nearly all market activity.

Value Chain & Strategic Insights

Unit prices across all sub-codes cluster tightly between $4.10 and $4.46 per piece, indicating low value-add and high price sensitivity typical of commodity markets. The HS Code 610990 breakdown reveals a trade structure driven by volume competition rather than quality differentiation, making cost efficiency the key strategic lever for exporters. This analysis confirms a straightforward, price-competitive environment for these garments.

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Vietnam Clothing Accessories Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration & Market Risk

Vietnam's Clothing Accessories export destinations from January to October 2025 show extreme concentration in the United States, which captured 30.8% of total export value. This heavy reliance on a single market creates significant exposure to any economic or policy shifts in U.S. import demand. Japan and South Korea follow as secondary markets, but their combined value share doesn't match the U.S. dominance, underscoring a critical market risk profile for Vietnamese exporters.

Purchasing Behavior & Demand Segmentation

The U.S. market demonstrates a nearly balanced value-to-quantity profile (30.80 valueRatio vs. 28.97 quantityRatio), indicating standardized bulk purchasing rather than premium specialization. However, the relatively lower frequency ratio (21.88) against volume suggests larger, consolidated shipments typical of wholesale distribution channels. This pattern points toward volume-scale opportunities for Vietnamese exporters, with margins likely driven by operational efficiency rather than product premiumization.

Table: Vietnam Clothing Accessories (HS Code 610990) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Vietnam Clothing Accessories Buyer Companies Analysis

Buyer Concentration & Market Structure

According to yTrade data, Vietnam Clothing Accessories buyers are overwhelmingly dominated by high-volume repeaters, who represent 90.10% of the total export value from January to October 2025. This cluster, characterized by frequent and large orders, points to a market anchored in stable, contract-based supply chains, typical of major retailers or manufacturing partners. The concentration highlights the reliance on key accounts for sustained trade flows.

Purchasing Behavior & Sales Strategy

The consistent high-frequency purchasing aligns with a rush to pre-empt new tariffs, as seen in the Vietnam-to-U.S. import surge [VIZION]. Given the high value concentration, sellers must prioritize relationship management with these core buyers to secure contracts, while also developing targeted digital outreach to capture the fragmented long-tail of smaller, occasional purchasers, reflecting HS Code 610990 buyer trends.

Table: Vietnam Clothing Accessories (HS Code 610990) Top Buyers List (Source: yTrade)

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Action Plan for Clothing Accessories Market Operation and Expansion

• Diversify buyer base: Target fragmented long-tail purchasers to reduce dependence on high-volume repeaters (90.1% of export value).
• Shift market focus: Expand into Japan and South Korea to mitigate U.S. tariff risks, leveraging their existing but underutilized demand.
• Optimize logistics: Reduce unit costs through bulk shipping efficiencies to offset thin margins in this price-sensitive segment.
• Monitor policy shifts: Track U.S. trade adjustments and Vietnam’s VAT reforms to time shipments and lock in 0% on-spot export benefits.
• Renegotiate contracts: Push for shorter-term agreements to adapt to volatile tariff conditions, avoiding long-term fixed pricing.

Take Action Now —— Explore Vietnam Clothing Accessories HS Code 610990 Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Vietnam Clothing Accessories Export in 2025?

The volatility in Vietnam's Clothing Accessories exports is primarily driven by U.S. tariff policy shifts, with a surge in Q1 shipments ahead of a 20% tariff implemented in August 2025, followed by a sharp decline post-implementation.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Vietnam Clothing Accessories (HS Code 610990) in 2025?

The U.S. dominates with a 30.8% share of Vietnam's export value, followed by Japan and South Korea as secondary markets.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across destination countries of Vietnam Clothing Accessories Export in 2025?

Unit prices cluster tightly between $4.10 and $4.46 per piece, reflecting a commodity-driven market where price sensitivity outweighs quality differentiation.

Q4. What should exporters in Vietnam focus on in the current Clothing Accessories export market?

Exporters must prioritize relationship management with high-volume repeat buyers (90.1% of export value) while improving cost efficiency to compete in this price-sensitive market.

Q5. What does this Vietnam Clothing Accessories export pattern mean for buyers in partner countries?

Buyers can expect stable, large-volume shipments from Vietnam but should monitor tariff-related disruptions and negotiate bulk pricing advantages.

Q6. How is Clothing Accessories typically used in this trade flow?

HS Code 610990 garments, primarily T-shirts and vests, are traded as standardized bulk commodities, with exports driven by wholesale distribution channels.