According to Vietnam’s Statistics Office, the country’s leather footwear exports have continued to climb since the start of the year, totalling $1.195 billion for the January to April period compared with $1.068 billion in the prior-year period, an 11.89% increase.

Exports of handbags, wallets, suitcases and umbrellas rose 18% to $190 million during the four-month period from $161 million last year.

In April alone, footwear exports totalled $300 million versus $260 million in April 2006, whilst leather goods exports stood at $55 million compared with $45 million.