Vietnam Rubber Shoes HS6402 Export Data 2025 May Overview

Vietnam Rubber Shoes (HS 6402) 2025 May Export: Key Takeaways

Vietnam Rubber Shoes Export 2025 May (HS Code 6402) shows the U.S. as the dominant market, accounting for 29.63% of export value, with stable product grades. Major developed markets like Japan and the U.K. drive steady demand, while EU hubs like the Netherlands serve as key distribution gateways. The U.S. market’s volume demands focus, but tariff management is critical, while the EVFTA offers advantages in Europe. This analysis covers the 2025 May period, based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

Vietnam Rubber Shoes (HS 6402) 2025 May Export Background

Vietnam Rubber Shoes (HS Code 6402), classified as footwear with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics, serves key industries like retail and sports, driven by stable global demand for affordable, durable footwear. Despite a 20% U.S. tariff increase in 2025, Vietnam’s exports to the U.S. grew 26.4% year-over-year [Ice Miller], highlighting its role as the world’s top shoe exporter. With HS 6402 accounting for 15.62% of Vietnam’s footwear exports [VIOIT], the country remains a critical supplier in May 2025 and beyond.

Vietnam Rubber Shoes (HS 6402) 2025 May Export: Trend Summary

Key Observations

Vietnam Rubber Shoes HS Code 6402 Export in 2025 May declined by approximately 5.9% month-over-month to $442.28 million, following a peak in April, indicating a potential seasonal slowdown after strong spring demand.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The value trend from January to May 2025 shows volatility, with a low of $352.76 million in February and a high of $470.02 million in April, reflecting typical footwear industry cycles where exports often surge in early spring for summer inventory buildup. The May dip suggests a post-peak adjustment, consistent with seasonal stock replenishment patterns, though the lack of volume data limits price-specific insights. Year-over-year, overall growth is implied given broader export increases.

External Context and Outlook

This volatility occurs amid a 20% reciprocal tariff on Vietnamese footwear exports to the U.S. in 2025 [TGL Group], yet Vietnam's exports to the U.S. grew 26.4% year-over-year in the first eight months (Ice Miller), highlighting resilience driven by strong global demand and supply chain adaptations. Future performance may hinge on navigating tariff impacts while leveraging trade agreements.

Vietnam Rubber Shoes (HS 6402) 2025 May Export: HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In May 2025, Vietnam's export of rubber shoes under HS Code 6402 is highly concentrated in the sub-code for footwear not elsewhere specified, which represents over 80% of both value and quantity. This category, described as footwear with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics excluding ankle coverage, has an estimated unit price of approximately 11.74 USD per piece, lower than other sub-codes, indicating a specialization in mass-produced, lower-value items. No extreme price anomalies are present in the top sub-codes for this analysis.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The non-dominant sub-codes fall into two main groups: sports footwear, including items like ski-boots and general sports shoes with higher unit prices around 18.72 USD per piece, and ankle-covering footwear with medium unit prices near 16.14 USD per piece. This variety suggests that Vietnam's export structure for rubber shoes includes both standardized bulk products and more differentiated manufactured goods, rather than purely fungible commodities tied to indices.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

Market players should note that the heavy reliance on lower-value items may constrain pricing power for bulk exports, but the presence of higher-value categories offers avenues for strategic upselling. Despite potential tariff pressures, Vietnam's footwear exports to key markets like the US showed strong growth in 2025, indicating resilient demand that could support diversification efforts [Ice Miller].

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Vietnam Rubber Shoes (HS 6402) 2025 May Export: Market Concentration

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

The United States is the dominant market for Vietnam Rubber Shoes HS Code 6402 Export 2025 May, accounting for 29.63% of the total export value. The large gap between its value share (29.63%) and its quantity share (29.07%) is minimal, suggesting a consistent product grade across shipments to this major buyer.

Partner Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

Two main clusters emerge from the data. The first consists of major developed markets like the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom, which show high value and frequency, pointing to steady demand for volume purchases. The second cluster includes key EU transit hubs like the Netherlands and Belgium, which have very high quantity-to-value ratios; this pattern is typical for countries that act as logistical gateways, consolidating goods for further distribution across the European Union.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

For Vietnamese exporters, the U.S. market's sheer volume demands a primary focus, but the 20% reciprocal tariff [FreightAmigo] makes cost management critical. Leveraging the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) [Academia] to reduce duties for end-consumers in Europe is a key advantage. Strengthening partnerships with gateway hubs like the Netherlands can optimize logistics for broader European distribution.

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Vietnam Rubber Shoes (HS 6402) 2025 May Export: Action Plan for Rubber Shoes Market Expansion

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

The Vietnam Rubber Shoes Export 2025 May under HS Code 6402 operates as a volume-driven assembly hub. Core price drivers are product specification (basic vs. sports/ankle-covering models) and large OEM contract volumes from dominant buyers. The supply chain implication is a dual structure: high-volume production of standardized items for major markets like the U.S., supported by a network of smaller buyers for niche segments. This creates a stable base but limits pricing power on bulk orders.

Action Plan: Data-Driven Steps for Rubber Shoes Market Execution

• Analyze buyer purchase cycles from trade data to align production schedules with order frequency. This prevents inventory overstock and ensures timely fulfillment for high-value clients.
• Use HS Code sub-classification data to identify and promote higher-value sports and specialty footwear. This directly increases average unit price and profit margins.
• Map shipments to EU gateway hubs like the Netherlands to optimize logistics and leverage EVFTA tariff advantages. This reduces final cost for end-consumers and strengthens competitiveness in Europe.
• Diversify the client portfolio by targeting low-frequency, high-value buyers identified in trade records. This mitigates risk from over-reliance on a few dominant accounts.

Forward-Looking Risk Mitigation

The 20% U.S. tariff poses a major cost challenge. Mitigate this by rigorously controlling production expenses. The high buyer concentration requires strengthening relationships with core partners to maintain stable demand. Simultaneously, use EVFTA benefits to accelerate growth in European markets, balancing geographic dependence.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Vietnam Rubber Shoes Export 2025 May?

The May 2025 decline of 5.9% month-over-month reflects a seasonal slowdown after April’s peak, typical for footwear exports post-spring inventory buildup. Resilient demand, despite U.S. tariff pressures, suggests underlying market strength.

Q2. Who are the main partner countries in this Vietnam Rubber Shoes Export 2025 May?

The U.S. dominates with 29.63% of export value, followed by Japan and the UK. EU hubs like the Netherlands and Belgium act as key transit points for regional distribution.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across Vietnam Rubber Shoes Export 2025 May partner countries?

Price gaps stem from product specialization: bulk exports of lower-value rubber shoes (avg. $11.74/piece) contrast with pricier sports footwear ($18.72/piece) shipped to premium markets.

Q4. What should exporters in Vietnam focus on in the current Rubber Shoes export market?

Prioritize high-value buyers (77.26% of trade) while diversifying into niche segments. Leverage EVFTA for EU tariff reductions and mitigate U.S. tariff risks through cost optimization.

Q5. What does this Vietnam Rubber Shoes export pattern mean for buyers in partner countries?

U.S. buyers face stable supply but tariff-inflated costs, while EU buyers benefit from gateway hubs streamlining logistics. Niche buyers can access specialized footwear at higher price points.

Q6. How is Rubber Shoes typically used in this trade flow?

Most exports are mass-produced, low-value rubber shoes (80% share) for general use, supplemented by sports and ankle-covering footwear for differentiated markets.