INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT POSTS STRONGEST FIVE-MONTH GROWTH IN FOUR YEARS

Workers assemble a vehicle on a production line at an automotive manufacturing plant in Vietnam - PHOTO: VNA

HCMC – Industrial production rose 9.1% in the first five months of 2026 from a year earlier, marking the strongest growth for the period in four years, according to the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance.

The index of industrial production (IIP) increased in all 34 provinces and centrally governed cities during the January-May period.

Manufacturing and processing expanded 9.5% from a year earlier and contributed 7.4 percentage points to overall industrial growth. Mining rose 5.5%, contributing 0.9 percentage point, while electricity production and distribution increased 7.6%, adding 0.7 percentage point.

In May alone, the IIP was estimated to have risen 3.3% from April and 8.8% from a year earlier.

Manufacturing and processing grew 9% year-on-year in May. Water supply, waste management, and wastewater treatment increased 8.7%. Electricity production and distribution rose 8.5%, while mining expanded 6%.

Among major industries, metal production climbed 20.2% in the first five months. Motor vehicle manufacturing rose 18%, chemicals and chemical products increased 16.9%, and non-metallic mineral products gained 16.2%.

Beverage production advanced 15.1%, furniture manufacturing grew 11.6%, food processing increased 11.2%, rubber and plastic products rose 10.9%, and paper products gained 10.7%.

Some sectors recorded declines. Hard coal and lignite mining fell 4.6%, while production of other transport equipment decreased 1%.

Output of several key industrial products also increased. Motorcycle production surged 36% from a year earlier, automobile production rose 26.7%, processed seafood products increased 21.6%, and rolled steel output climbed 21.5%.

Refined sugar and beer production each rose 14.4%, while chemical paints increased 14.3%.

Meanwhile, production of NPK fertilizer fell 6.8%, monosodium glutamate declined 6%, leather footwear dropped 5.7%, and clean coal output decreased 4.7%.

Source: The Saigon Times