Firming up of world market has led to a rise in the import rates of cowhide that is used to manufacture Vietnamese footwear.
Price reached $1.81 per square feet (CIF) during early April representing 10.53 percent hike as compared with period around mid-March 2006.
Taiwan has secured top position among the world suppliers with cowhide exports worth $2 million accounting for 35 percent total imports turnover in the week.
Import price of Taiwan variety is lowest among all others, at $1.53 per square feet.
Vietnamese footwear firms imported 500 thousand square feet of raw hides from Korea at $1.9 per square feet, and around one million square feet from China, Thailand and Hong Kong at an average price of $2-2.1 per square feet.