In order to meet rising demand from its textile industry while domestic output remains poor, Vietnam is set to import 1.2 million tonnes of cotton this year. The import would be up by about 19 per cent from that of 2015, it is understood.

Most of the imported cotton will come from the United States, which has been Vietnam's top supplier of the raw material. More would come in from India, Brazil and Australia.

Vietnam's exports of textiles and garments that is the country's second-biggest cash earner of the country after smart phones are projected to jump 36 per cent this year to $31 billion.