The country remained in second place with exports of 1.23 billion pairs behind only China (7.4 billion), according to the World Footwear 2021 Year Book published by the Portuguese Footwear, Components and Leather Goods Manufacturers Association.
The two countries account for 71 percent of all footwear exports.
Vietnam’s exports were growing at 11.2 percent in 2015-19, but last year Covid-19 dragged it down to negative 8.3 percent growth to $16.79 billion, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said.
The pandemic caused footwear production to fall by 15.8 percent last year, according to the Portuguese report.
Over 82 percent of all footwear is made in Asia, it added.