U.S. Hemp Steps Forward at VIATT 2026
Why Showing Up in Global Markets Matters
The Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies was more than a trade show. It was a strategic signal for U.S. industrial hemp in one of the world’s most important textile markets.
NIHC was proud to lead the only U.S. delegation and serve as the only hemp exhibitor at the event, alongside IND HEMP. In a market as competitive and export-driven as Vietnam, presence matters. Visibility matters. And relationships matter even more.
Why VIATT Matters
Vietnam is a global textile manufacturing powerhouse. Decisions made there influence fiber sourcing and supply chain direction across Asia, Europe, and North America.
Key meetings with senior Vietnamese officials, including Bui Quang Hung of Vietrade and Ta Manh Cuong, director of the Center for Trade and Investment Promotion Support, reinforced how central textiles are to Vietnam’s export economy and how focused the government is on innovation and diversified fiber inputs.
Sustainable natural fibers are part of that strategy. Hemp is firmly in consideration.
Markets develop when suppliers show up consistently, answer technical questions, demonstrate scalability, and build trust. That is why participation in global trade platforms is not optional, it is strategic
Expanding the Global Platform
The message from the floor was clear: manufacturers are actively exploring sustainable alternatives, and hemp is on the sourcing list.
“One of the biggest takeaways,” said NIHC Chief of Staff Veronica Frantz-Eggleston, “is that hemp is being taken seriously as a commercial-scale fiber option. The demand is real, and the timing is right.”
For U.S. producers, that timing is significant. As global brands pursue carbon-reduction targets and supply chain resilience, diversified natural fibers are moving from concept to procurement strategy.
Meetings with leadership from Messe Frankfurt, one of the world’s largest trade fair organizers with more than 150 global events, opened doors beyond textiles. These discussions help to create potential pathways for hemp into automotive, advanced materials, and other industrial sectors.
The Bigger Picture for U.S. Hemp
NIHC President and CEO Patrick Atagi emphasized that global engagement directly strengthens domestic industry growth.
“When we participate in international trade platforms, we are not simply promoting a product,” Atagi noted. “We are positioning U.S. industrial hemp as a reliable, scalable input in the global materials economy. If we want to compete, we have to be present where sourcing decisions are being made.”
The U.S. Delegation
The NIHC delegation included key leaders in the industrial hemp space, including:
- Morgan Tweet (Elliott), IND HEMP
- Trey Riddle, IND HEMP
- Guy Carpenter, Bear Fiber
- Morris Beegle, Bio-Smart
- Brandon Kishpaugh, North 40 Outfitters-CSWW, Inc., Smith and Rogue Brand
- Corbet Miteff, konopiUS
The delegation was supported by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, whose partnership helps ensure U.S. agricultural industries are visible and competitive in priority global markets.
NIHC also connected with partners from the Asia International Hemp Federation, strengthening regional relationships that will extend well beyond this event.
The conversations were substantive. The interest was strong. And U.S. hemp showed up organized, collaborative, and ready to compete.
Participation in events like VIATT is about more than exposure. It is about building durable markets, expanding commercial pathways, and ensuring that American-grown industrial hemp has a seat at the global sourcing table.
