Vietnam, which has so far allowed duty free import of polyester staple fibre (PSF) could charge a 2 per cent import tax following a proposal by the ministry of industry and trade to encourage domestic production, a Vietnamese newspaper has reported.
Aiming to rescue domestic fibre manufacturers facing harsh competition from imported fibre, the ministry plans to raise tax on staple fibre, coded 55.01, 55.02, 55.03, 55.04, 55.06 and 55.07, which are currently enjoying a zero tax rate.
According to the ministry, Vietnam imports around 150,000 tonnes of polyester fibre every year, while domestic producers do not run at full capacity.
One of the leading producers, PetroVietnam Petrochemical and Textile Fiber Joint Stock Company (PVTEX), runs only 50 per cent of its design capacity due to difficulties in selling owing to competition from imported products.
With plunging oil prices, the global price of the PSF has dropped sharply, forcing the PVTEX to lower the price of its fibre from $1,340 per tonne in August 2014 to $970. However, this has not improved its chance against importers. The current price cannot make up for production costs.
According to the ministry, it is important to encourage the use of domestic fibre to enhance the competitiveness of Vietnam's garment and textile industry, given that the country has been carrying out negotiations to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which requires a yarn-forward rule of origin for textiles and apparel.
