A new Memorandum of Understanding establishes a transparent pipeline for IND HEMP fiber into Vietnam’s textile sector, delivering sustainable, traceable textiles produced in Vietnam for U.S. brands; first-look yarns and fabrics debut this week at the Functional Fabric Fair.
IND HEMP, a leader in American industrial hemp processing, Summit International Trading, a leading textile import/export supply chain partner, and Thien Phuoc, a sustainable natural fiber textile manufacturer, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to integrate U.S.-grown hemp fiber into Vietnam’s global textile manufacturing hub. This strategic partnership bridges the technical gap between American agriculture and Southeast Asian spinning expertise, through to finished goods, establishing a reliable supply chain for high-quality hemp yarns, fabrics, and garment manufacturing at scale. By leveraging the specialized degumming and spinning capabilities Thien Phuoc has developed for Raimy fiber in Vietnam, this alliance provides U.S. brands with a viable, sustainable alternative to traditional Chinese hemp sources. The collaboration officially debuts to US brands this week at the Functional Fabric Fair in Portland, Oregon, where the first samples of Vietnamese-spun yarns and finished fabrics made with IND HEMP fiber are on display alongside 100% US produced hemp yarns and fabrics.
“Summit International has deep experience importing from and exporting to the U.S. from Vietnam and managing textile supply chains,” said Morgan Tweet, CEO of IND HEMP. “Thien Phuoc has built a strong natural fiber processing platform with ramie. Together, they have the capability to integrate hemp into an existing, working textile supply chain system.”
Mr. Thanh of Summit International Trading added, “Vietnam is an expert and leading supplier of textiles, specifically those made with sustainable natural fibers. American farmers are known to produce the best crops at scale in the world, and from visiting the farms and facilities of IND HEMP in Montana, we are confident that we have the partner necessary to supply both quality and consistency as hemp fiber continues to grow in both use and demand in textiles in Vietnam.”
In December 2025, Summit International imported the first 4 containers of IND HEMP fiber into Vietnam. This was the first raw hemp fiber imported into Vietnam, following policy changes over the past few years. Previously, only yarns or fabrics made from hemp fiber were allowed for import, mainly from China. Vietnam can now leverage its strong fiber processing and textile manufacturing industries.
A delegation including IND HEMP, Bear Fiber, and Montana clothing brand Smith and Rogue traveled to Vietnam in February 2025 to attend the VIATT textile show. This trip was supported by NIHC (National Industrial Hemp Council) through USDA FAS funding.
Following the VIATT show, the IND HEMP team traveled across Vietnam, with Mr. Thanh visiting multiple facilities that do fiber degumming and spinning. Visiting the mills and meeting their owners across Vietnam provided the affirmation that Vietnam and Summit International were the right partners for IND HEMP in Vietnam. In the short time since receiving the first shipment, Thien Phuoc was able to process the fiber and present the initial yarn and fabric at VIATT, made in Vietnam, with this US fiber.
An official MOU signing ceremony was held within Vietnam with IND HEMP, Summit International Trading, and Ramie natural fiber processor Ms. Thuy, highlighting the agreed commitment across the supply chain to bring hemp fiber and hemp fiber textiles to the world. IND HEMP grows the crops and performs first touch processing-‘decortication’ in Montana to turn the harvested hemp straw into bales of clean hemp bast fiber. Summit International coordinates the import of these fibers into Vietnam, and coordinates with and supplies mills in the country. Thien Phuoc is a processor of natural fibers from degumming through to finished garments.
Vietnam has become the largest textile exporter to the US in 2025, superseding China, and is one of the top 3 importers of US cotton. Vietnam and the US have favorable trade relations, with Vietnam offering preferential market access to US agricultural products, removing tariffs on most goods, including cotton, hemp, and food commodities like wheat and soybeans.
Vietnam’s Sustainability Advantage
One area where Vietnam excels is in the sustainability initiatives undertaken by garment manufacturers and suppliers. The Environment Protection Law, in effect since January 2022, imposes heavy fines on manufacturers and businesses that violate it.
This has meant there are a large number of compliant apparel businesses in the country. Brands that are on the lookout for sustainable suppliers to meet commitments, comply with ESG standards, and other sustainability metrics are thus increasing sourcing from Vietnam.
Hence, US textile brands that have made commitments import a considerable amount of material from Vietnam. These include giant US brands such as Converse Inc. and Levi Strauss & Co., which have large supplier bases in Vietnam.
The Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS) has set a target of US $50 billion for Vietnamese textile, garment, and yarn exports in 2026. It shows the ambition of those in the Vietnamese textile and garment industries to maintain high export levels.
Vietnam is part of the Pacific ASEAN–SE Asian Agreement and RCEP, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which allows products of those countries to trade with little or no duty. This is a pathway for USA-grown fibers that have been further processed, upgraded, and spun into yarns or made into fabrics to trade from Vietnam to other partner countries (China, Japan, Korea, etc) and beyond to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and other textile and nonwoven manufacturing countries.
Expanding Global Opportunities
This partnership is part of IND HEMP’s broader effort to expand international markets for U.S.-grown industrial hemp.
Following participation at Biofach, Europe’s Organic food show earlier this year, in Germany, the company will continue its global outreach to supply sustainable fiber and healthy foods, with upcoming events including exhibiting at INDEX European Nonwovens show in May and Alimentec, the South American Food Show, in Colombia in June as they continue to develop trade relationships and find import partners across the globe. While IND HEMP is committed to supporting domestic manufacturing with industrial hemp materials, the reality is that they have scaled production and processing faster and to a greater scale than the U.S. domestic manufacturing market can consume. International trade provides growth opportunities for both the farmers growing the crops and for the end consumers around the world wanting to own sustainable textiles and products made with industrial hemp, while also supplying existing manufacturing supply chains with U.S.-grown sustainable agricultural products. In the past 2 years, IND HEMP has exported across North America and into multiple countries in South America, Europe, and Asia.
IND HEMP thanks The NIHC (National Industrial Hemp Council of America), a premier, USDA-recognized cooperator that leverages FAS Market Access Program (MAP) funding to boost U.S. industrial hemp exports globally, for their support in traveling to Vietnam and attending the VIATT, Vietnam Textile tradeshow. Additionally, IND HEMP is appreciative of continued trade support through the Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA), WUSATA (Western United States Agricultural Trade Association), Organic Trade Association (OTA), and Montana Dept of Commerce’s Export Montana’ STEP program for their dedicated support in helping to find and develop export markets and opportunities for Montana-grown industrial hemp.
IND HEMP is the leading U.S. producer, processor, and supplier of industrial hemp fiber, grain, and food products. Based in Fort Benton, Montana, the family-owned, mission-driven company is a Certified B Corp dedicated to providing innovative, sustainable agricultural opportunities for American farmers. By bridging the gap between modern agriculture and sustainable manufacturing, the Montana-based processor is pioneering the use of industrial hemp across diverse industries—ranging from textiles and nonwovens to animal care and nutrition.
Summit International Trade LLC specializes in the U.S.–Vietnam import-export corridor, providing on-the-ground representation to connect American firms with verified Vietnamese suppliers, particularly in the textile and garment manufacturing sectors. They offer end-to-end supply chain management, focusing on quality assurance and fraud prevention to facilitate seamless trade. For more details, visit Summit International Trade LLC.
Thien Phuoc Ramie Group Joint Stock Company is a leading Vietnamese manufacturer pioneering sustainable natural fiber textiles through a vertically integrated “farm-to-fashion” model. Utilizing proprietary technology for the Raimy fiber ecosystem, the company provides eco-friendly, antibacterial, and durable yarn solutions to the global market. Learn more about their sustainable manufacturing at Thien Phuoc.