SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SITUATION IN SEVEN MONTHS OF 2018

1. Production of agriculture, forestry and fishery

a) Agriculture

As of July 15, the whole country cultivated 1000.5 thousand hectares (ha) of winter rice, equaling 94.7% of the figure in the same period last year, of which Northern localities cultivated 838 thousand ha, equaling 93.4%; Southern localities cultivated 162.5 thousand ha, equaling 102.1%.

As of mid-July, 2050.1 thousand ha of summer-autumn rice were cultivated over the country, equaling 99.7% of the figure in the similar period last year, of which localities in the North reached 174.4 thousand ha, equaling 100.6%; localities in the South gained 1875.7 thousand ha, equaling 99.6%. At present, 462.4 thousand ha of early summer-autumn rice have been harvested, equaling 79.6% of the figure in the similar period last year.

As of mid-July, localities over the country cultivated 833.7 thousand ha of maize, equaling 97% of the figure in the same period last year; 93.2 thousand ha of sweet potato, equaling 82.3%; 155.6 thousand ha of peanut, equaling 90.2%; 33.6 thousand ha of soya, equaling 61.2%; 833 thousand ha of vegetables, equaling 98%.

As of July, the whole country’s flock of buffaloes decreased by 1.2%; flock of oxen increased by 2.3%; flock of poultry grew by 5.4%; flock of pigs reduced by 2.8%. As of July 25, 2018, epidemic diseases in cattle and poultry no longer occurred nationwide.

+ Agricultural production as of July 15, 2018

b) Forestry

Generally, the concentrated planted forest area in seven months was estimated to reach 115.8 thousand ha, increasing by 1.5% compared with the same period last year; the number of separate planted trees gained 42.8 million trees, growing by 0.1%; wood production achieved 6484 thousand m3, a rise of 8.5%; firewood production gained 14.8 million steres, a decline of 1.6%.

In seven months of 2018, the damaged forest area was 720.3 ha, down 25.6% against the same period last year, of which the burnt forest area was 279.3 ha, a decrease of 27.9%; the destroyed forest area was 414 ha, a decrease of 24.1%.

c) Fishery

Generally, in seven months of 2018, fishing production was estimated to reach 4274.2 thousand tons, up 5.7% over the same period last year, of which production of aquaculture gained 2170.2 thousand tons, up 6.5%; production of fishery caught achieved 2104 thousand tons, up 5% (production of sea catching reached 2001.7 thousand tons, up 5.2%).

2. Industry

Generally, in seven months of 2018, the index of industrial production (IIP) for the whole industry increased by 10.9% over the similar period last year, higher than the growth rate of 7.1% in the same period in 2017[1]. Of which, the manufacturing maintained the high growth at 13.1%, contributed 9.9 percentage points to the overall growth; the production and distribution of electricity grew by 10.7%, contributed 1 percentage point; the water supply and waste treatment increased by 6.6%, contributed 0.1 percentage point; the mining and quarrying fell by 0.5%, reduced 0.1 percentage point of the general growth.

+ Industrial Production Index
+ Main industrial products
+ Labor employed index (LEI) for industrial enterprises

3. Business registration situation[2]

Generally, in seven months, the whole country had 75793 enterprises registered for new establishment with a total registered capital of 771.1 trillion dongs, an increase of 3.9% in the number of enterprise and 11.6% rise in the registered capital compared to the same period in 2017[3]. Average registered capital per newly established enterprise reached 10.2 billion dongs, up 7.4%. If including 1460.4 trillion dongs of additionally registered capital of the enterprises which changed to raise the capital, the total registered capital added to the economy in seven months of 2018 was 2231.5 trillion dongs. Besides, there were 18696 enterprises returning to operation, a rise of 6.5% over the similar period last year, bringing the total number of newly registered enterprises and re-operated enterprises in seven months of this year to nearly 94.5 thousand enterprises. Total number of registered laborers of newly established enterprises in seven months of 2018 was 623.5 thousand people, a decrease of 13.5% against the same period last year.

The number of temporarily ceased enterprises in seven months of 2018 was 59910 ones, an increase of 38.4% against the identical period last year, including 19994 enterprises registered for time-limited temporary cessation of business, rising by 26% and 39916 enterprises temporarily suspended operation without registering or waiting for dissolution, increasing by 45.6%[4].

The number of enterprises which finished the procedure for dissolution in seven months of 2018 was 7714 ones, an increase of 16.7% from the same period last year, of which there were 7043 enterprises with capital size of less than 10 billion dongs, accounting for 91.3% and growing by 15.4%.

+ Number of newly registered enterprises by kinds of activity
+ Number of re-operated enterprises by kinds of activity
+ Number of temporarily ceased enterprises by kinds of activity

4. Investment

Generally, in seven months of this year, realized investment capital under the State budget reached 153.7 trillion dongs, equaling 44.5% of the annual plan and increasing by 10.6% against the same period last year (it equaled 45.2% of the yearly plan and grew by 6.4% in 2017’s same period), of which the capital under central management obtained 28.2 trillion dongs, equaling 42.8% of the annual plan and decreasing by 8.1% over the identical period last year; the capital under local management achieved 125.5 trillion dongs, equaling 44.9% of the annual plan and increasing by 15.9% compared to the same period in 2017.

From the beginning of the year to July 20, 2018, FDI attracted 1656 newly licensed projects with the total registered capital of US$ 13205.4 million, an increase of 20.2% in the number of projects and a rise of 2.2% in the registered capital against the similar period in 2017. Besides, there were 627 turns of license-granted projects from previous years registered to adjust investment capital with the additional capital of US$ 4947.2 million, down 15.8% from the same period last year. Thus, the total of newly registered capital and additional capital in seven months reached US$ 18152.6 million, down 3.5% from 2017’s same period. Realized FDI capital in seven months of this year was estimated at US$ 9.85 billion, increasing by 8.8% over the identical period in 2017.  In seven months of 2018, there were 3311 turns of capital contribution and share purchase of foreign investors with a total contributory value of US$ 4.79 billion, a growth of 53.3% against the same period in 2017, of which 475 turns of capital contribution and share purchase increased the charter capital of enterprises with the contributed capital of US$ 1.64 billion and 2836 turns of foreign investors bought back domestic shares without increasing charter capital with the value of US$ 3.15 billion.

In the first seven months of the year, 51 provinces and centrally-run cities nationwide received newly licensed foreign direct investment projects from 63 countries and territories.

Vietnam’s direct investment abroad in seven months of this year had 81 projects newly granted the Outward Investment Registration Certificate with Vietnam’s total investment capital of US$ 238.3 million; 21 capital adjustment projects with additional capital of US$ 41.3 million. Generally, Vietnam’s total offshore investment capital (including newly granted and additional capital) in seven months of 2018 gained US$ 279.6 million.

+ Realized investments under the State budget
+ Licensed FDI projects from January 01 to July 20, 2018

5. Government revenues and expenditures

Total estimated government revenues from the beginning of the year to July 15, 2018 achieved 681.6 trillion dongs, equaling 51.7% of the annual estimate, of which domestic revenues reached 540.1 trillion dongs, equaling 49.1%; collecting from crude oil gained 31.7 trillion dongs, equaling 88.2%; from export-import balance obtained 107.8 trillion dongs, equaling 60.2%. In domestic revenues, revenue from State owned enterprises was 74 trillion dongs, equaling 44.5% of the yearly estimate; revenue from foreign-invested enterprises (excluding crude oil) was 87.7 trillion dongs, equaling 39.4%; 107.1 trillion dongs were collected from non-State industrial, commercial and service taxes, equaling 49.1%; personal income tax revenue was 53.2 trillion dongs, equaling 54.9%; 22.9 trillion dongs were collected from environmental protection tax, equaling 46.9%; land use fees reached 84.8 trillion dongs, equaling 98.7%.

Total government expenditures from the beginning of the year to July 15, 2018 was estimated at 717.5 trillion dongs, equaling 47.1% of the yearly estimate, of which regular expenditures were 494.2 trillion dongs, equaling 52.5%; expenditure on development investment achieved 150 trillion dongs, equaling 37.5%; expenditure on interest payment was 67.2 trillion dongs, equaling 59.7%.

6. Trade, prices, transport and tourism

a) Retail sales of consumer goods and services

Generally, in seven months of 2018, total estimated retail sales of consumer goods and services reached 2493.4 trillion dongs, up 11.1% against the same period last year, if excluding the price factor, the growth rate was 8.4% (it increased by 7.98% in the same period in 2017).

Estimated sales of accommodation and catering services in seven months attained 306.7 trillion dongs, accounting for 12.3% of the total and moving up by 9.1% from the same period last year. Sales of travelling in seven months of this year achieved an estimate of 23.1 trillion dongs, making up 0.9% of the total and climbing by 17.7% against the similar period last year. Sales of other services in seven months was estimated at 288.6 trillion dongs, representing 11.6% of the total and increasing by 9% compared to the identical period in 2017.

+ Total retail sales of consumer goods and services

b) Exports and imports of goods

Generally, in seven months of 2018, export turnovers of goods was estimated to reach US$ 133.69 billion, a rise of 15.3% compared with the same period in 2017, of which the domestic economic sector achieved US$ 39.03 billion, moving up by 18.7%; the FDI sector (including crude oil) gained US$ 94.66 billion (accounting for 70.8% of total export turnovers), increasing by 14%.

About the merchandize export market in seven months, the United States was the biggest export market of Vietnam with the turnover of US$ 25.5 billion, up 8.9% over  the same period last year; followed by EU with US$ 24.2 billion, increasing by 12.9%; China with US$ 19.5 billion, a rise of 24.7%; ASEAN with US$ 14.2 billion, an increase of 16.2%; Japan with US$ 10.4 billion, moving up by 10.2%; South Korea with US$ 10.2 billion, a growth of 31.9%.

Generally, in seven months, import turnovers of goods reached an estimate of US$ 130.63 billion, up 10.2% from the same period last year, of which the domestic economic sector gained US$ 54.16 billion, up 12.7%; the FDI sector achieved US$ 76.47 billion, up 8.5%.

About the merchandize import market in seven months, China was still the biggest import market of Vietnam with turnover of US$ 35.8 billion, up 13.1% against the corresponding period in 2017; followed by South Korea with US$ 26.5 billion, increasing by 0.2%; ASEAN with US$ 18.1 billion, climbing by 13.5%; Japan with US$ 10.4 billion, 12.8% increase; the United States with US$ 7 billion, jumping up by 25.7%.

Generally, in seven months, the balance of trade maintained trade surplus with US$ 3.1 billion[5], of which the domestic economic sector had trade deficit of US$ 15.1 billion; the FDI sector (including crude oil) had trade surplus of US$ 18.2 billion.

+ Exports
+ Imports
 
c) Consumer price indexes (CPI), gold and US dollar price indexes

Average CPI in seven months of 2018 increased by 3.45% compared to the similar period in 2017. CPI in July 2018 grew by 2.13% over December 2017 and by 4.46% from the same period last year.

Average core inflation in seven months of this year increased by 1.36% over the similar period in 2017.

Gold price index in July 2018 went down by 1.57% over the previous month, increased by 0.48% compared to December 2017 and moved up by 2.88% over the same period last year. The US dollar price index in July 2018 grew by 0.84% over the previous month and climbed by 1.3% compared to December 2017 and rose by 1.28% over the same period in 2017.

+ Consumer price indexes, gold, US dollar price indexes and core inflation

d) Carriage of passengers and cargos

Generally, in seven months of 2018, passenger carriage reached 2653.1 million passengers, a rise of 10.1% over the corresponding period last year and 117.8 billion passengers-kilometers, a rise of 10.5%, of which passengers carried by road achieved 2503.2 million passengers, a rise of 10.3% and 81.7 billion passengers-kilometers, a rise of 10.6%; by inland waterway: 111.2 million passengers, up 6.1% and 2.1 billion passengers-kilometers, up 6.3%; by seaway: 4.3 million passengers, 6.3% increase and 253.2 million passengers-kilometers, 6.8% growth; by airway: 28.9 million passengers, an increase of 14.6% and 31.4 billion passengers-kilometers, an increase of 11.9%. Only passenger carriage by railway reached 5.5 million passengers, a drop of 10.3% and 2.4 billion passengers-kilometers, a decline of 4.5%.

Generally, in seven months, cargo carriage gained 933.6 million tons, up 9.5% from the same period last year and 173.6 billion tons-kilometers, up 6.9%, of which the domestic transport reached 913.9 million tons, increasing by 9.7% and 93.7 billion tons-kilometers, by 9.6%; overseas transport reached 19.6 million tons, moving up by 2.4% and 79.8 billion tons-kilometers, by 3.9%. By types of transport, cargo transport by road obtained 720.4 million tons, a rise of 10.3% over the same period last year and 47.5 billion tons-kilometers, up 10.9%; by inland waterway: 165.1 million tons, up 7.5% and 34.8 billion tons-kilometers, an increase of 7.2%; by seaway: 44.5 million tons, going up by 4.7% and 88.5 billion tons-kilometers, climbing by 4.5%; by railway: 3.3 million tons, a growth of 2.3% and 2.3 billion tons-kilometers, an increase of 13.6%; by airway: 205.7 thousand tons, up 14.1% and 541.4 million tons-kilometers, up 12.9%.

+ Carriage of passengers and cargos

e) International visitors to Vietnam

Generally, in seven months of this year, international visitors to Vietnam was estimated to reach 9080.3 thousand arrivals, a rise of 25.4% compared with the same period last year, of which visitors coming by airway gained 7357.9 thousand arrivals, moving up by 20.2%; by road: 1544.6 thousand arrivals, rising by 63.3%; by seaway: 177.8 thousand arrivals, a light decrease of 0.2%.

In seven months, visitors from Asia reached 6988.6 thousand of arrivals, accounting for 77% of the total visitors to Vietnam, increasing by 30.4% over the identical period last year, of which visitors from Europe reached an estimate of 1230.1 thousand arrivals, up 10.4% from the same period last year; visitors from the America reached 570.8 thousand arrivals, increasing by 13%; visitors from Australia gained 266.5 thousand arrivals, increasing by 8.4%; visitors from Africa achieved 24.3 thousand arrivals, growing by 21.5% over the same period in 2017.

+ International visitors to Vietnam

7. Social issues

a) Farmers’ food shortage

Generally, in seven months of 2018, the whole country had 96.2 thousand households suffering from food shortage, a decrease of 39.4% from the same period last year, corresponding to 383.5 thousand persons suffering from food shortage, a decline of 41.1%. To overcome this problem, from the beginning of the year, all administrative levels, sectors and organizations from central to local level supported difficult households with 7.4 thousand tons of grain and about 500 million dongs.

b) Epidemic diseases and food poisoning

Generally, in seven months of 2018, the whole country had 21.6 thousand cases of hand, foot, mouth disease; 29.9 thousand cases of hemorrhagic fever (8 cases died); 338 cases of typhoid; 439 cases of virus encephalitis (7 cases died); 333 cases of whooping cough; 63 human cases of streptococcus suis infection (5 cases died); and 36 cases died of rabies and 1373 persons suffering from food poisoning (8 persons died).

Total number of alive HIV-infected persons over the country as of July 15, 2018 was 208.8 thousand persons and 91.8 thousand cases turned to AIDS. The number of persons died of HIV/AIDS nationwide as of above time-point was 98 thousand persons.

c) Traffic accidents

Generally, in seven months of 2018, 10350 traffic accidents occurred nationwide, including 5329 traffic accidents of less serious or more and 5021 traffic crashes, making 4716 persons died, 2858 ones injured and 5248 ones slightly injured. Compared with the same period last year, the number of traffic accidents in seven months of this year decreased by 7.4% (the number of traffic accidents from less serious and over went down by 3.9%, the number of traffic crashes fell by 10.7%); number of dead declined by 0.9%; the number of injured people increased by 2.1% and the number of minor injuries reduced by 18.5%. Each day in seven months on average, the whole country had 49 traffic accidents, including 25 traffic accidents of less serious or more and 24 traffic crashes, making 22 persons died, 14 ones injured and 25 ones slightly injured.

d) Damages caused by natural calamity

According to the preliminary reports from localities, natural calamity in seven months of this year[6] made 78 persons died and lost, 64 persons injured; 740 thousand houses collapsed and damaged; 18.1 thousand houses flooded, landslided, damaged and unroofed; 12.6 thousand ha of rice and crops damaged. Total value of damage was estimated at about 1468 billion dongs.

e) Environment protection, fire and explosion prevention

Generally, in seven months of the year, 8930 cases of violating regulations of environment protection were found over the country, of which 8390 cases were treated with total fine of over 116.8 billion dongs.

Generally, in seven months, the whole country had 2460 cases of fire and explosion, killing 70 persons and injuring 186 others, the value of damage was estimated at about 1414 billion dongs.

GENERAL STATISTICS OFFICE

[1] In seven months of 2017, the mining and quarrying decreased by 7.5% compared with the same period in the previous year; the manufacturing increased by 10%; the production and distribution increased by 8.9%; the water supply and waste treatment grew by 5.8%.

[2] Source: National Business Registration Information System, Ministry of Planning and Investment.

[3] In seven months of 2017, the number of newly registered enterprises increased by 13.8% from the similar period in the previous year; the registered capital grew by 39%; average registered capital per enterprise went up by 22.2%.

[4] The enterprises temporarily suspended operation without registering or waiting for dissolution increased highly, one of reasons for this was that business registration offices over the country are reviewing, standardizing data, eliminating enterprises which have been no longer in operation for a long time.

[5] Of which trade deficit with South Korea was US$ 16.3 billion, a decline of 13% compared with the same period last year; trade deficit with China was US$ 16.3 billion, an increase of 1.6%.

[6]  Excluding damage caused by the 3rd storm.