The country’s footwear industry expects robust export growth this year despite ongoing concerns about anti-dumping duties in the European Union (EU) market, a recent study finds.

A survey by the US-based non-profit Kearny Alliance Foundation shows that 90 percent of footwear exporters anticipate export growth this year, and 47 percent will target the EU market.

It also indicates that 60 percent of footwear makers would maintain their quotas for next year.

While footwear makers are concerned about the EU’s 10 percent anti-dumping duty imposed on made-in-Vietnam products, survey respondents also noted that the 16 percent duty imposed on China gives Vietnam an advantage.

“The Vietnamese footwear sector enjoys a number of competitive advantages, among which are an abundant supply of raw materials, favourable government support and the large pool of skilled suppliers with proven original equipment manufacturer capability,” said Alexander Boome, programme director of Kearny Alliance.

“This is clearly supported by a number of well-established international brands entrusting their production to Vietnam suppliers. As a result, the country is the fifth-largest exporter of footwear in the world,” Boome added.

Tran Duc Trieu, director of T&T Fashion Shoes, one of the suppliers featured in the report, said, “We are confident that Vietnamese footwear makers can meet the high demands of quality and budget conscious buyers worldwide.”

The country’s footwear industry posted an export turnover of 147.8 million USD last year.

The footwear sourcing report, which is one of series of the Developing Country Sourcing Reports, features profiles of 32 experienced large, mid-sized and emerging export manufacturers.

Included in the report are 108 bestselling export products ranging from casual shoes and sandals to sports and formal shoes.

Turnover from footwear exports reached more than 1 billion USD in the first quarter of 2010, up 10 percent over the same period last year.

According to the General Statistics Office, the EU continues to be Vietnam’s largest importer of footwear with turnover reaching 326 million USD in the first two months of this year – 48 percent of total exports. It was followed by the US and Japan.

At present, Vietnam’s footwear products, mainly sports shoes, cloth and leather shoes and sandals, are exported to 50 countries and territories worldwide. Total turnover from the sector comes just behind garment and crude oil exports.

According to the Vietnam Leather and Footwear Association (Lefaso), Vietnam now ranks fourth among the world’s 10 leading footwear exporters./.