Export turnover for the Vietnamese footwear sector grew 9% year-on-year during the first five months of 2010 to $1.8 billion, according to the country’s customers department. Footwear exports for May rose 10% to $415.3 million.

According to the department, the main export destinations were the EU, the US, Japan, Mexico and Canada.

Despite the growth, shoe manufacturers in Vietnam claim price increases for raw materials and different regulations imposed by EU, Peru and Turkey are holding them back.

The country’s shoe exports fell 15% to $4.1 billion in 2009 as a result of the global economic downturn.