SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SITUATION IN EIGHT MONTHS OF 2015

As of mid-August, provinces over the country cultivated 1003.6 thousand hectares of maize, equaling 101.1% from the last year’s same period; 119.2 thousand hectares of sweet potato, equaling 93.6%; 89.4 thousand hectares of soybean, equaling 93%; 182.2 thousand hectares of peanut, equaling 97.9%; 907.8 thousand hectares of vegetables, equaling 101.1%.

According to the survey result, as of 01 July 2015, the country’s total flock of pigs had 27.7 million heads, rose 2.8% from the similar period in 2014; total flock of fowls had 338.7 million heads, rose 3.5%.
   
+ Agricultural production as of 15 August 2015

b. Forestry

Generally, in eight months, the area of concentrated planted forest was estimated to reach 133.9 thousand hectares, rose 8% against the same period last year.

The number of separate planted trees achieved 132.8 million, increased by 0.2%; wood production gained 4615 thousand m3, went up by 10.3%; firewood production reached 20.3 million ste, raised by 1.9%.

Generally, in eight months, the are of damaged forest was 1206 hectares, reduced by 60% from the same period last year, of which the fired forest area was 742 hectares, down 70.4%; the destroyed forest area was 464 hectares, down 9%.

c. Fishery

Generally, in eight months of this year, total production of fishery was estimated to reach 4261.7 thousand tons, rose 3.1% compared to that in the similar period last year, of which production of aquaculture achieved 2270.2 thousand tons, increased by 1.9%; production of fishing caught gained 1991.5 thousand tons, by 4.4%.

2. Industry

Generally, in eight months, Industrial Production Index (IPI) increased by 9.9% over the same period last year, of which the mining and quarrying rose 8%, contributed 2.1 percentage points to the general growth; the manufacturing went up by 10.4%, contributed 7 percentage points; the power generation and supply grew by 11.4%, contributed 0.7 percentage points; the water supply and waste treatment increased by 6.9%, contributed 0.1 percentage points.

Generally, in seven months, consumption index increased by13.3% from the same period in 2014. Stock index for the entire manufacturing as of 01 August 2015 rose 10.1% against the similar period last year. Stock rate for the whole manufacturing on average in seven months of 2015 was 74.6%.

The number of laborers working for industrial enterprises as of 01 August 2015 rose 6.3% over the identical period last year, of which the State sector increased by 0.5%; the non-State sector grew by 4%, and the FDI sector jumped up by 10.1%. As of above time, the number of laborers working for the mining and quarrying fell by 0.9% from the previous year’s similar period; the manufacturing grew by 7.1%; the power generation and supply went down by 0.1%; the water supply and waste treatment rose 5%.

+ Industrial Production Index
+ Main industrial products
+ Consumption and stock indexes of the manufacturing
+ Labor employed index (LEI) for industrial enterprises

3. Operation of enterprises[1]

Generrally, in eight months of this year, the country had 61305 enterprises registered for new establishment with a total registered capital of 376.4 trillion dongs, an increase of 29.2% in the number of businesses and an increase of 29.9% in the registered capital over the equivalent period last year. Average registered capital per newly established enterprise in eight months reached 6.1 billion dongs, increased by 0.5% from 2014’s same period. In addition, there were 15243 times of enterprises changed to raise the capital with the total additionally registered capital of 481.5 trillion dongs. Therefore, the total of both newly and additionally registered capital in eight months was 857.9 trillion dongs. The expected number of laborers provided with job in the newly established enterprises in eight months was 873.3 thousand persons, grew by 23.3% from the same period in 2014.

The number of suspended enterprises re-operated in eight months of 2015 was 11333 ones, a rise of 3.7% compared to 2014’s identical period. The number of enterprises having difficulty forced to temporarily cease operations in eight months was 39056 ones, an increase of 2.4% from the same period last year, of which 11248 enterprises registered for time-limited temporary cessation of operations; 27808 enterprises suspended businesses waiting for closing the enterprise code or without registration. Of enterprises having difficulty forced to temporarily cease operations, there were 14021 one-member limited companies (accounting for 35.9%); 12723 two-member limited companies (accounting for 32.6%); 7418 joint-stock companies (taking 19%) and 4894 private enterprises (representing 12.5%).

4. Investment

Generally, in eight months, realized investment capital from the State budget reached 132.5 trillion dongs, equaled 64.3% of the yearly plan and increased by 3.4% from 2014’s same period. Of which the capital under central management gained 26 trillion dongs, equaled 63.9% of the annual plan and reduced by 1.3% from the same period last year; the capital under local management achieved 106.5 trillion dongs, equaled 64.4% of the yearly plan and grew by 4.6% over the similar period in 2014. Of which the capital from the State budget at provincial level gained 73699 billion dongs, equaled 60.8% and rose 6.1% from the same period last year; at district level: 26632 billion dongs, equaled 71.2% and rose 2%; at commune level: 6188 billion dongs, equaled 91.3% and fell by 1.1% respectively.

From the beginning of the year to 20 August 2015, FDI attracted 1219 newly licensed projects with the registered capital of US$7878,9 million, an increase of 22.9% in the number of projects and a rise of 8.7% in the capital from the similar period in 2014. At the same time, 389 times of license-granted projects from the previous years were provided with additional capital of US$5459.7 million. Thus the total registered capital of both newly and additionally financed projects reached US$13338.6 million, grew by 30.4% against the last year’s same period. Estimated realized FDI capital in eight months of this year was estimated to gain US$8.5 billion, rose 7.6% from 2014’s similar period.

In eight months, the manufacturing attracted the largest number of FDI projects with the registered capital of US$10359.5 million, accounting for 77.7% of the total registered capital; the real estate business attracted US$1827.8 million, accounting for 13.7%; other industries received US$1151.3 million, taking 8.6%.

The country had 47 provinces and cities directly under the central management which received newly licensed FDI projects from 54 nations and territories.

+ Realized investments under the State budget
+ Licensed FDI projects from 01 January to 20 August 2015

5. Government revenues and expenditures

Total estimated government revenues from the beginning of the year to 15 August 2015 achieved 578.2 trillion dongs, equaled 63.5% of the annual estimate, of which domestic revenues reached 429.4 trillion dongs, equaled 67.2%; collecting from crude oil achieved 44.8 trillion dongs, equaled 48.2%; from export-import balance: 101.5 trillion dongs, equaled 58%. Of home revenues, 136.3 trillion dongs were from State enterprises, equaling 61.7% of the yearly estimate; 85.8 trillion dongs were from FDI enterprises (excluding crude oil), equaling 60.2%; 80 trillion dongs were from non-state industrial, commercial and non-state service taxes, equaling 67%; 36.9 trillion dongs were from individual income tax, equaling 71.9%; 11.8 trillion dongs were from tax on environment protection, equaling 91.5%; and 35.2 trillion dongs were from land use fee, equaling 90.2%.

Total government expenditures from the beginning of the year to 15 August 2015 reached an estimate of 690.8 trillion dongs, equaled 60.2% of the yearly estimate. Of which, spending for investment development achieved 106.7 trillion dongs, equaled 54.7% (only spending for capital construction reached 103.7 trillion dongs, equaled 54.4%); spending for economic and social development, national defense and security, state management was estimated to gain 477.9 trillion dongs, equaled 62.3%; paying debts and aids 100.5 trillion dongs, equaling 67%.

6. Trade, price and services

a. Retail sales of consumer goods and services

Generally, in eight months, total retail sales of consumer goods and services was estimated to reach 2116.7 trillion dongs, increased by 10.1% from the same period last year (if the factor of inflation were excluded, it would be 9.1%, higher than the growth of 7.8% in 2014’s similar period). By kinds of economic activity, retail sales of goods in eight months reached 1608.2 trillion dongs, accounted for 76% of the total and rose 10.8% against the last year’s similar period; accommodation and catering services gained 246.8 trillion dongs, took 11.7% and rose 7%; travelling reached 19.6 trillion dongs, represented 0.9% and dropped by 1.2%; other services achieved 242.1 trillion dongs, accounted for 11.4% and rose 9.7% respectively.

+ Total retail sales of consumer goods and services
 
b. Exports, imports

Generally, in eight months, export turnovers was estimated to reach US$106.3, increased by 9% from the same period last year, of which the domestic economic sector achieved US$31.7 billion, decreased by 2.5%; the FDI sector (including crude oil) reached US$74.6 billion, grew by 14.7%. About the export market in eight months, the United States was the biggest market of Vietnam with export turnover of US$22.1 billion, a rise of 19.8% compared to the last year’s same period. The next were EU with US$20.2 billion, a rise of 12.3%; ASEAN with US$12.3 billion, a decrease of 3%; China with US$10.4 billion, an increase of 5.6%; Japan with US$9.3 billion, a drop of 4.9%; South Korea with US$5.1 billion, a rise of 16.5%.

Import turnovers in eight months reached an estimate of US$109.9 billion, rose 16.4% over the last year’s similar period, of which the domestic economic sector gained US$44.7 billion, 7.7% increase; the FDI sector achieved US$65.2 billion, a rise of 23.2%. Regarding the import market in eight months, China continued to be the largest market of Vietnam with an estimated import turnover of US$32.7 billion, accounting for 29.8% of the total import turnover and a growth of 20.4% compared to the similar period last year. The next were South Korea with US$18.8 billion, up 34.8%; ASEAN with US$16 billion, up 5.3%; Japan with US$9.8 billion, up 23%; EU with US$6.5 billion, up 12.7%; the United States with US$4.9 billion, up 17.8%.

Estimated trade deficit in eight months of 2015 was US$3.6 billion, equaled 3.4% of export turnovers, of which the domestic economic sector had a trade deficit of US$13 billion; the FDI sector had a trade surplus of US$9.4 billion.

+ Exports
+ Imports

c. Consumer price indexes (CPI), gold and US dollar price indexex

CPI in August 2015 fell by 0.07% from the previous month, this was the only August in the last ten years with reduced CPI[2]. CPI in August 2015 rose 0.61% against December 2014 and rose 0.61% over the same period last year. Average CPI in eight months of this year went up by 0.83% compared with that in 2014’s identical period. 

Core inflation in August 2015 increased by 0.1% against the previous month and by 1.98% against the same period last year. Average core inflation in eight months of this year grew by 2.19% from the figure in 2014’s similar period.

Gold price indexes in August 2015 went down 3.92% from the previous month; down 4.95% from December 2014; and down 10.56% against the same period last year. US dollar price indexes in August 2015 increased by 0.31% from the previous month; jumped up by 2.33% from December 2014 and rose 2.96% compared to 2014’s similar period.

+ Consumer price indexes, gold, US dollar price indexes and core inflation in August 2015

d. Carriage of passengers and cargos

Passenger carriage in eight months was estimated to reach 2162.3 million passengers, raised by 7.8% and 96.4 billion passengers-kilometers, by 7.6% from the same period in 2014. Of which central transport reached 23.1 million passengers, increased by 1% and 24.2 billion passengers-kilometers, by 5.5%; local transport gained 2139.2 million passengers, grew by 7.8% and 72.2 billion passengers-kilometers, by 8.3%. In eight months of this year, estimated passengers carried by road achieved 2038.2 million passengers, a rise of 8% and 71 billion passengers-kilometers, a rise of 8.7% from the same period last year; by air: 13.5 million passengers, an increase of 5.8% and 20.5 billion passengers-kilometers, an increase of 5.4%; by rail: 7.9 million passengers, a decrease of 4.6% and 3 billion passengers-kilometers, a rise of 0.4%; by sea: 3.8 million passengers, 6.4% increase and 179.6 million passengers-kilometers, 5.3% increase.

Cargo carriage in eight months reached an estimate of 736.4 million tons, rose 5.4% and 146.9 billion tons-kilometers, rose 2.7% from the last year’ same period. Of which the domestic transport gained 715.3 million tons, increased by 5.4% and 64.5 billion tons-kilometers, by 6%; overseas transport reached 21.1 million tons, grew by 5.4% and 82.4 billion tons-kilometers, by 0.2%. Cargo transport by road was estimated to obtain 565.9 million tons, increased by 6% and 31.2 billion tons-kilometers, by 7.2%; by river: 127 million tons, up 3.8% and 25 billion tons-kilometers, up 4.7%; by sea: 38.8 million tons, up 4% and 87.6 billion tons-kilometers, up 0.7%; by rail: 4.5 million tons, 5.4% decrease and 2.8 billion tons-kilometers, 0.6% increase.

+ Carriage of passengers and cargos

e. International visitors to Vietnam

Generally, in eight months, estimated number of international visitors to Vietnam reached 5063.2 thousand arrivals, reduced by 7.5% from the last year’ same period, of which visitors coming by airway reached 4231.5 thousand arrivals, a decrease of 3.6%; by road: 798.5 thousand arrivals, a decline of 22.9%; by sea: 33.2 thousand arrivals, a decrease of 24.8%.

In eight months of this year, visitors to Vietnam from Asia achieved 3380.7 thousand arrivals, fell by 7.7% against the similar period last year. Visitors from Europe gained an estimate of 790.3 thousand arrivals, went down 4.8% from the last year’s identical period. Visitors from America reached 409.8 thousand arrivals, rose 4.3% from the same period last year.

+ International visitors to Vietnam

7. Social issues

a. Farmers’ food shortage

Generally, in eight months, the country had 224.1 thousand times of households suffering from food shortage, down 23.5% from the same period last year, corresponding with 921.5 thousand times of persons suffering from food shortage, down 36%. To overcome the problem, from the beginning of the year, all administrative levels, sectors and localities provided difficult families with 18.6 thousand tons of grain food and 8.5 billion dongs.

b. Epidemic diseases and food poisoning

Generally, in eight months of this year, the country had 25.5 thousand cases of hand, foot, mouth disease; 22.9 thousand cases of hemorrhagic fever; 656 cases of virus encephalitis (20 died); 242 cases of typhoid; 72 cases of meningococcal disease (03 died). From the beginning of the year, there were no new cases of A (H5N1) flu and cholera recorded.

In the month, 1927 HIV-infected cases were found, total number of living HIV-infected persons over the country as of 17 August 2015 was 227.5 thousand persons, of which 78.4 thousand cases turned to AIDS. The number of persons died of AIDS over the country as of above time was 79.9 thousand persons.

From the beginning of the year, the country had 96 serious cases of food poisoning, infecting 2992 persons, of which 18 cases died.

c. Traffic accidents

Generally, in eight months, the country had 14622 cases of traffic accidents, including 6702 cases of traffic accidents and 7920 cases of traffic crashing, killing 5821 persons, injuring 3823 persons and injuring slightly 9411 others. In comparison with the same period last year, cases of the traffic accidents in eight months of this year decreased by 12.5% (cases of traffic accidents less serious and more reduced by 3.6%; cases of traffic collision by 18.8%); the death fell by 4%; the injured persons by 1.2%; slightly injured persons by 20.9%. On average, each day in eight months of 2015, the country had 61 cases of traffic accident, including 28 cases of traffic accidents and 33 cases of traffic crashing, killing 24 persons and injuring 16 persons and injuring somewhat 39 others.

d. Damage by natural calamity

Generally, in eight months, natural calamity made 113 persons died and lost, 127 persons injured; nearly 800 houses collapsed, swept away and over 23.4 thousand houses flooded, blown off, unroofed; 45.8 thousand hectares of rice and vegetables flooded and damaged. Total value of damage caused by the disaster from the beginning of the year was estimated 4.2 trillion dongs.

e. Environment protection, fire and explosion

From the beginning of the year, the country found about 7.3 thousand cases of violating regulations of environment protection, of which nearly 3000 cases were treated with total fine of over 114 billion dongs.

Generally, in eight months, the country had 2152 cases of fire and explosion, killing 64 persons and injuring 230 others, total value of damage was estimated 430.3 billion dongs.

GENERAL STATISTICS OFFICE

[1] Source: National Business Registration System, Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI).

[2] August’s CPI compared to the previous month in some years as follows: 2006: up 0.38%; 2007: up 0.55%; 2008: up 1.56%; 2009: up 0.24%; 2010: up

0.23%; 2011: up 0.93%; 2012: up 0.63%; 2013: up 0.83%; 2014: up 0.22%.