Vietnam, the world's fifth largest garment exporter, will import 1.2 million tonnes of cotton this year, up about 19 percent from 2015, to meet rising demand from its textile industry while domestic output is insignificant, an industry official said on Wednesday.

Most of the imported cotton will come from the United States, which has been Vietnam's top supplier of the raw material, followed by India, Brazil and Australia, Vice Chairman Nguyen Son of the Vietnam Cotton and Spinning Association told Reuters.

Vietnam's exports of textiles and garments, the country's second-biggest cash earner after smart phones, are projected to jump 36 percent this year to $31 billion, according to the trade ministry. (Reporting by Ho Binh Minh; Editing by Robert Birsel)