SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SITUATION IN FIVE MONTHS OF 2014

As of mid-May, spring rice-harvested area in the South provinces was 1,933,800 ha, equaling 99.1% against the last year’s same period. Together with this, as of above period, this region sowed 1,257,300 ha of summer rice, equaling 93.2% from the similar period last year.

The country cultivated 688,600 ha of maize, equaling 106.6% from 2013’s identical period; 91,900 ha of sweet potato, equaling 99.5%; 159,600 ha of peanut, equaling 99.5%; 65,100 ha of soybean, equaling 100.6%; 568,300 ha of vegetables, equaling 104.3%.

According to the husbandry survey as of April 1, 2014, the country had 2.6 million buffalos, equaling 99.4% from the same period in 2013; 5.2 million oxen, equaling 100.7%. Of which, for cows only there were 200,400 heads, 14% increase; 26.4  million pigs, equaling 100.3%; 314.4 million fowls, equaling the figures in the identical period last year.

b. Forestry

Generally, in five months, the concentrated forest area reached 44,500 ha, rose 13.8% from the same period last year; the number of dispersedly planted trees reached 94.2 million, reduced by 0.7%; wood production gained 2,118,000 m3, increased by 8%; firewood production gained 13.3 million cubic meters, rose 3.1%.

Generally, in five months, the total damaged forest area was 1556 ha, increased by 131% from the same period last year, of which burnt area was 1314 ha, rose 150%; destroyed forest area was 242 ha, rose 63%.

c. Fishery

Generally, in five months, estimated fishing production achieved 2,162,400 tons, grew by 3.3% from the same period in 2013, of which farmed production gained 997,900 tons, went up by 1.4%; caught production reached 1,164,500 tons, rose 5.1%.

2. Industry

Industrial Production Index (IPI) in May was estimated to rise by 5.9% from the similar period last year. Generally, in five beginning months of the year, IPI rose 5.6% from 2013’s same period (0.8 percentage points higher than the growth rate of the same period last year), of which the manufacturing increased by 7.5%, contributed 5.3 percentage points to the general growth rate; the power generation and supply rose 10.6%, contributed 0.7 percentage points; the water supply and waste treatment grew by 6.1%, contributed 0.1 percentage points; only the mining and quarrying continued to reduce by 2.1%, making the overall growth for the whole industry decrease 0.5 percentage points. In comparison with the growth of the same period last year, IPI of the manufacturing in five months had a higher growth rate of 2.2 percentage points; the power generation and supply had a higher growth rate of 1.9 percentage points. 

Consumption index for the whole manufacturing in April, 2014 went up by 3.7% from the previous month and by 16.3% from the similar period last year. Generally, in four beginning months of the year, consumption index of this industry grew by 7.7% from the last year’s same period.

As of May 1, 2014, stock index for the whole manufacturing increased by 12.6% from 2013’s identical period, higher than the same period’s growth rate of 12.3% in 2013 and lower than the growth rate of 13.9% of the previous month’s same period. Stock rate for the entire manufacturing on average in four beginning months of the year was 78.7%.

Labor employed index (LEI) for industrial enterprises as of May 1, 2014 grew 3.5% from the same period last year, of which the state sector reduced by 1.2%; the non-state sector rose 4.7%, and the FDI sector rose 4.5%.  As of above period, LEI of the mining and quarrying reduced by 1.8% against the identical period last year; the manufacturing increased by 3.8%; the power generation and supply by 3.4%; the water supply and waste treatment by 3.6%.

3. Investment

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, the realized investment capital from the state budget reached 66,874 billion dong, equaling 36.9% of the yearly plan and reduced by 0.1% from the similar period in 2013. Of which the capital under central management reached 13,448 billion dong, equaling 34% of the annual plan and increased by 0.6% from the last year’s same period; the capital under local management achieved 53,426 billion dong, equaling 37.7% of the yearly plan and dropped by 0.3% from 2013’s same period.

FDI from the beginning of the year to May 20, 2014 attracted 500 newly licensed projects with the registered capital of USD 3668.8 million, reduced by 4.6% in the number of projects and by 17% in capital from the same period in 2013. Besides, 167 times of license-granted projects from previous years was provided with additional capital of USD 1840.2 million. Therefore, the total registered capital of both newly and additionally financed projects reached USD 5509 million, decreased by 34.3% from the same period in 2013. Estimated realized FDI capital in five beginning months of the year achieved USD 4.6 billion, increased by 0.4% from 2013’s similar period.

In five beginning months of the year, the manufacturing attracted foreign investors with the registered capital of USD 3923.1 million, accounted for 71.2% of total registered capital; the construction achieved USD 463.2 million, accounted for 8.4%; the real estate business received USD 399.3 million, accounted for 7.2%; other industries gained USD 723.4 million, took 13.2%.

The country had 40 provinces and cities directly under the central management which received newly licensed FDI projects in four past months from 36 nations and territories.

4. Government revenues and expenditures

Total estimated government revenues from the beginning of the year to May 15, 2014 reached 326.1 trillion dong, equaling 41.7% of the yearly estimate, of which domestic revenues gained 226.9 trillion dong, equaled 42.1%; collecting from crude oil achieved 42.6 trillion dong, equaled 49.9%; from export-import balance achieved 55.3 trillion dong, equaled 35.9%. Of home revenues, 75.3 trillion dong was from state enterprises, equaling 40.8% of the yearly estimate; 49.8 trillion dong from FDI enterprises (excluding crude oil), equaling 44.6%; 47.3 trillion dong from non-state industrial, commercial and service taxes, equaling 44.1%; 21.6 trillion dong from individual income tax, equaling 45.7%; 4.2 trillion dong from tax on environment protection, equaling 33.2%; and 3.8 trillion dong from other fees, equaling 36.8%.

Total estimated government expenditures from the beginning of the year to May 15, 2014 reached 370.9 trillion dong, equaled 36.8% of the annual estimate. Of which spending for investment development achieved 60.9 trillion dong, equaled 37.3% (only spending for capital construction investment was 58.8 trillion dong, equaled 37.2%); spending for economic and social development, national defense and security was estimated to reach 264.9 trillion dong, equaled 37.7%; for paying debts and aids 45.2 trillion dong, equaled 37.6%.

5. Trade, price and service

a. Total retailed sales of consumer goods and services.

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, total retailed sales of consumer goods, and services achieved 1179 trillion dong, rose 11% from the same period last year (if the factor of inflation were excluded, it would be 6%). Total retailed sales of consumer goods and services in five months of state economic sector gained 115.8 trillion dong, accounted for 9.8% of the total and grew by 8.6%; non-state economic sector achieved 1020.3 trillion dong, took 86.5%, rose 10.8%; FDI sector reached 43 trillion dong, took 3.7%, rose 23%. Of the total, retailed sales of goods reached 887.2 trillion dong, accounted for 75.2% and increased by 8.5%; accommodation and catering services gained 143.3 trillion dong, accounted for 12.2% and increased by 12.9%; other services achieved 136.4 trillion dong, took 11.6% and rose 26.6%; traveling service reached 12.1 trillion dong, took 1% and rose 22.1%.   

b. Exports - Imports

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, export turnovers gained an estimate of USD58.5 billion, grew by 15.4% from the same period in 2013, of which the domestic economic sector achieved USD 19 billion, increased by 11.9%, and the FDI sector (including crude oil) reached USD39.5 billion, by 17.1%.

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, import turnover was estimated to reach USD56.8 billion, rose 9.6% from the identical period last year, of which the domestic economic sector gained USD 24.3 billion, rose 7.2%; the FDI sector reached USD 32.5 billion, grew by 11.4%.

In four beginning months of the year, trade surplus was USD 2 billion; trade deficit in May was at an estimate of USD 400 million.

Generally, in five months, trade surplus was USD 1.6 billion, equaling 2.8% of the total export turnovers, of which the FDI sector had the fairly high trade surplus of USD6.9 billion; the domestic economic sector continued to have the trade deficit of USD 5.3 billion. Therefore, trade surplus still absolutely belonged to the FDI sector in five beginning months of the year.

c. Consumer Price Indexes (CPI)

May’s CPI grew 0.2% from the previous month. In groups of goods and services, garments, hats, footgear increased by 0.2%; housing and construction materials by 0.43%; family appliances by 0.25%; transport by 0.36%; culture, entertainment and tourist by 0.26% respectively. Remaining groups had lower or decreased CPI compared to the general growth rate, of which catering and related service rose 0.17% (grain food reduced by 0.51%; foodstuff grew by 0.37%); drinks and tobacco by 0.13%; medicines and health services by 0.06%; education by 0.01%; postal and communicational service decreased by 0.03%. 

The factors affecting May’s CPI of some major groups of goods: Grain food price index decreased because Mekong Delta’s spring rice production was relatively good, on the other hand, pressures from the competition with Thailand’s lower prices of exported rice has narrowed Viet Nam’s traditional markets of rice imports making impact on the country’s rice prices. Foodstuff price index increased partly because the live-weight pork price rose 0.19%, fresh poultry price grew by 0.87%, and price of vegetables went up by 2.88%. Price rise in the group of housing and construction materials was mainly due to 0.91% increase in the construction material price; power price grew by 1.18% and water price by 0.41%. Petrol price was adjusted to rising at the end of April making petrol price index increase by 0.41%, price index of public transport service by 0.89% (also due to the growth of traveling demands).

CPI in May, 2014 went up by 1.08% from December, 2013 and by 4.72% from the same period last year. Average CPI in five beginning months of the year rose 4.73% compared to that in the same period in 2013.

Gold price index in May declined by 0.85% from the previous month, raised by 1.38% from December 2013 and reduced by 13.4% from the same period last year. US dollar price index in May fell by 0.04% from the previous month, by 0.17% from December, 2013, increased by 0.37% from 2013’s similar period.   

d. Carriage of passengers and cargos

Passenger carriage in five beginning months of the year was estimated to reach 1256.8 million arrivals, raised by 5.8% and 57.7 billion passengers-kilometers rose 7.1% from the same period in 2013. Of which central transport reached 13.4 million passengers, increased by 5.6% and 13.9 billion passengers-kilometers, by 8.1%; local transport gained 1243.4 million passengers, by 5.8% and 43.8 billion passengers-kilometers, by 6.7%. Five months’ estimated passenger transport by road achieved 1179.7 million passengers, increased by 6% and 42.7 billion passengers-kilometers, by 6.8% from the same period last year; transport by river gained 62.7 million passengers, by 3% and 1.5 billion passengers-kilometers, by 2.8%; transport by air reached 7.6 million passengers, by 12.5% and 11.8 billion passengers-kilometers, by 10.7%; transport by sea gained 2.3 million passengers, by 3.6% and 101.6 million passengers-kilometers, by 1.1%; transport by rail gained 4.6 million passengers, decreased by 3.5% and 1.6 billion passengers-kilometers, by 5.9%.

Five months’ cargo carriage reached an estimate of 424 million tons, rose 4.4% and 87.4 billion tons-kilometers, rose 2.5% from the last year’ same period. Of which the domestic transport gained 412.3 million tons, increased by 4.7% and 38 billion tons-kilometers, by 3.8%; overseas transport reached 11.7 million tons, decreased by 5.1% and 49.5 billion tons-kilometers, grew by1.5%. Cargo transport by road obtained 324.4 million tons, increased by 5.7% and 18.3 billion tons-kilometers, by 4.1%; river: 74.1 million tons, by 2.7% and 15.7 billion tons-kilometers, by 2.6%; sea: 22.5 million tons, down 7% and 51.7 billion tons-kilometers, grew by 1.9%; rail: 2.9 million tons, 6.4% increase and 1.6 billion tons-kilometers,  2.1% increase. 

e. International visitors to Viet Nam

Estimated number of international visitors to Viet Nam in five beginning months of the year reached 3.7 million arrivals, grew by 26.1% from the last year’ same period. Of which, 3 million arrivals came by air, grew by 23.8%, 722,600 arrivals came by road, by 56.5% and 39,300 arrivals came by sea, down 60.3%. Visitors coming for tourist purposes were 2.3 million arrivals, rose 24.3% from the same period in 2013; business purposes: 629,200 arrivals, increased by 25.7%; for visiting relatives: 646,700 arrivals, grew by 30.8%.

6. Social issues

a. Labor and employment

The labor force aged 15 and above as of April 1, 2014 was 53.58 million persons, raised 592,200 persons compared to the last year’s same period of which male laborers accounted for 51.3%; female laborers accounted for 48.7%. The labor force within the working age group as of April 1, 2014 was 47.36 million persons, raised 260,100 from the same period in 2013.

Persons aged 15 and above working in all economic activities in the 1st quarter of 2014 were 52.53 million, increased by 616,100 against the 1st quarter of 2013. On the structure, labor in the sector of agriculture, forestry and fishery accounted for 47.5%, had no many changes compared with the same period last year; labor in the sector of industry and construction accounted for 20.5%, reduced 0.2 percentage points; labor in the sector of service took 32.0%, rose 0.2 percentage points.   

The unemployment rate of laborers within the working age group in the 1st quarter of the year was 2.21%, of which it was 3.72% for the urban area and 1.53% for the rural area (corresponding rates in the 1st quarter of 2013 were 2.27%, 3.80% and 1.58%).

The 1st Quarter’s underemployment rate of laborers within the working age group was 2.78%, of which it was 1.46% for the urban area and 3.37% for the rural area (corresponding rates in the 1st quarter of 2013 were 3.12%, 1.95% and 3.63%).

The unemployment rate of youths aged 15-24 was 6.66%, of which it was 12.31% for the urban area and 4.85% for the rural area.

The unemployment rate of laborers aged 25 and above in the 1st Quarter was 1.2%, of which it was 2.27% for the urban area and .71% for the rural area. The 1st Quarter’s figures showed that youths’ unemployment rate in the urban area of was 5.4 times as much as adults’.

b. Farmers’ food shortage

Generally, the country in five beginning months of the year had 248,200 times of households suffering from food shortage, reduced by 13.6% from the corresponding period in 2013, which equaled 1055 thousand hunger persons, down 11.9%. To overcome the problem, from the beginning of the year, all administrative levels, sectors and localities provided difficult families with 17,400 tons of food and 19.7 billion dong; only in May, over 3000 tons of food.

c. Epidemic diseases and food poisoning

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, the country had 20,800 cases of hand, foot, mouth disease; 9000 cases of hemorrhagic fever; 111 cases of typhoid; 227cases of virus encephalitis (3 died); eight cases of meningococcal disease (2 died); two cases died of A (H5N1) flu and three cases of acquired palmoplantar keratoderma in Quang Ngai.

Measles epidemic has had positive changes with the decreased number of new cases; however, it still has the risk of out breaking again. As of May 22, 2014, the country had 23,408 cases of measles suspected cases of roseola infantum with 4729 positive cases of measles and 143 deaths related to measles. The rate of measles vaccination over the country reached 95.8%, of which 58 provinces and cities directly under the central management reached the rate of 90% and above.

More 893 HIV-infected cases were found in the month, bringing the number of living HIV-infected persons over the country as of May 17, 2014 to 218,400, of which 68,200 turned to AIDS. The number of persons died of AIDS over the country as of above period was 70,500.

Generally, the country in five months had 36 serious cases of food poisoning, infecting 1064 persons, of which 10 cases died.

d. Traffic accidents                 

Generally, the country in five beginning months of the year had 4468 cases of the traffic accidents, killing 3928 persons and injuring 2893 others. The number of cases of traffic crashing was 6304, making 7663 persons partly injured. In comparison with the same period in 2013, cases of the traffic accidents decreased by 3%; cases of traffic crashing slowed down 19.1%; the death fell by 5.1%; the injured persons increased by 0.8%; slightly injured persons reduced by 20.9%. On average, the country in each day in five months had 30 cases of traffic accident and 42 cases of traffic crashing, killing 26 persons and injuring 19 persons and injuring somewhat 51 others.

e. Damage by natural calamity

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, natural calamity made 17 persons died and lost; 35 persons injured; over 13,700 houses collapsed and swept away; nearly 1000 ha of rice and about 9000 ha of vegetables flooded and damaged. The total value of damage caused by the disaster in five months was estimated 500 billion dong.

f. Fire and explosion, environmental protection

Generally, in five months, the country had 1191 serious cases of fire and explosion, killing 59 persons and injuring 94 others.

Damage by fire and explosion was at an estimate of about 295.6 billion dong.

Generally, the country in four months found 2274 cases of violating regulations of environmental protection, of which 1349 cases were treated with total fine of 33.4 billion dong.

GERNERAL STATISTICS OFFICE

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