SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SITUATION IN FOUR BEGINNING MONTHS OF 2015

As of mid-April, winter-spring rice harvested area in South provinces was 1653.8 thousand hectares, equaling 112.2% from the identical period last year. Together with this, provinces in the South sowed 665.2 thousand hectares of summer-autumn rice seeds, equaling126.9% against the similar period last year.

As of mid-April, the country cultivated 468.2 thousand hectares of maize, equaling 103.3% from 2014 same period; 77.8 thousand hectares of sweet potato, equaling 97.3%; 136.5 thousand hectares of peanut, equaling 92.2%; 60.5 thousand hectares of soybean, equaling 109.5%; 526.6 thousand hectares of vegetables, equaling 101.1%.

By and large, the animal husbandry was stable. Flock of buffalos in the month was estimated to reduce by 2 – 2.5% from the same period last year; flock of oxen increased by 1% - 1.5%, only flock of dairy cows raised by 20 – 22% due to the stability of the market for dairy products, businesses increased investment in expanding breeding scale. Flock of pigs raised by 1.5 - 2%, flock of poultry went up by 3%.
   
+ Agricultural production as of April 15, 2015

b. Forestry

Gennerally, in four beginning months of the year, the concentrated forest area reached an estimate of 34.5 thousand hectares, rose 21.2% from the same period last year; the number of dispersed planted trees reached 82.3 million, rose 0.7%; wood production gained 1978 thousand m3, increased by 7.8%; firewood production gained 10.5 cubic meters, rose 0.4%.

In four beginning months of the year, damaged forest area was 785 thousand hectares, decreased by 6.5% from the same period last year, of which fired forest area was 534 hectares, reduced by 20.8%; destroyed forest area was 251 hectares, increased by 52.2%.

c. Fishery

Generally, in four beginning months of the year, total estimated fishing production achieved 1748.4 thousand tons, grew by 3.4% from the same period in 2014, of which farmed production gained 738.5 thousand tons, went up by 1.6%; caught production reached 1009.9 thousand tons, rose 4.4%, of which 961.5 thousand tons came from sea catching, rose 4.7%.

2. Industry

In four beginning months of the year, Industrial Production Index (IPI) was estimated to increase by 9.4%, much higher than the growth of 5.5% in 2014’s similar period.

Of industries, the mining and quarrying rose 6.7%, contributed 1.4 percentage points to the general growth rate; the manufacturing had a high growth of 10.1%, contributed 7.2 percentage points; the power generation and supply rose 10.6%; contributed 0.7 percentage points; the water supply and waste treatment rose 6.4%[1], contributed 0.1 percentage points.

Generally, in the first quarter of 2015, consumption index for the manufacturing increased by 13.9% from the identical period in 2014.

As of April 01, 2015, stock index for the whole manufacturing went up by 11.3% compared to that in the same period in 2014, lower than the growth rate of 13.9% in the last year’s equivalent period.

The number of laborers working for industrial enterprises as of April 01, 2015 went up by 5.5% from the last year’s similar period, of which the state sector decreased by 0.3%; the non-state sector grew by 3.7%, and the FDI sector put up by 8.3%. As of above time, LEI of the mining and quarrying fell by 6% from the previous year’s similar period; the manufacturing grew by 6.4%; the power generation and supply by 0.8%; the water supply and waste treatment by 3.3% respectively.
   
+ Industrial Production Indexes
+ Main industrial products
+ Consumption and stock indexes of the manufacturing
+ Labor employed index (LEI) for industrial enterprises

3. The situation of the business activities [2]

Generrally, in four beginning months of the year, the country had 28235 enterprises registered for new establishment with a total registered capital of 162.5 trillion dongs, an increase of 9.7% in the number of businesses and an increase of 13.3% in the registered capital over the equivalent period in 2014. In addition, there were 6843 times of enterprises changed to raise the capital with the total additional registered capital of 223 trillion dongs. The average registered capital per enterprise achieved 5.7 billion dongs, rose 1.8% over the same period last year. The expected number of laborers provided with job in the newly established enterprises in four beginning months of the year was 427.9 thousand persons, grew by 19.2% from the same period in 2014.

In four beginning months of the year, there were 3249 enterprises which finished the procedure for dissolving, terminating business activities, a decrease of 0.8% from the same period last year, most of them are small-scale businesses with a registered capital of less than 10 billion dongs. By types of business, of the total number of enterprises which finished the procedure for dissolving, terminating operations, there were 1162 one-member limited liability companies (accounted for 35.8%); 855 two-member limited liability companies (accounted for 27.2%); 708 private enterprises (took 21.8%) and 494 joint-stock companies (represented 15.2%).

There were 19035 enterprises having difficulty forced to temporarily cease operations in four beginning months of the year, a rise of 4.5% from the same period last year, including 6726 enterprises registered for time-limited temporary cessation of operations; 12309 enterprises suspended businesses waiting for closing the enterprise code or without registration. Of enterprises having difficulty forced to temporarily cease operations, there were 6569 one-member limited liability companies
(accounted for 34.5%); 6339 two-member limited liability companies (accounted for 33.3%); 3212 joint-stock companies (took 16.9%) and 2915 private enterprises (represented 15.3%). There were up to 94% of enterprises having difficulty forced to suspend operations with the capital of less than 10 billion dongs.

In four beginning months of this year, the country had 6316 enterprises re-operated, an increase of 7.7% from the similar period in 2014.

4. Investment

Generally, in four beginning months of the year, realized investment capital from the State budget reached 53.1 trillion dongs, equaled 26.2% of the yearly plan and increased by 6.2% from 2014’s same period. Of which the capital under central management gained 10023 billion dongs, equaled 24.6% of the annual plan and increased by 5.2% from the same period last year; the capital under local management achieved 43075 billion dongs, equaled 26.6% of the yearly plan and grew by 6.5% over the similar period in 2014. The capital from the State budget at provincial level gained 30045 billion dongs, equaled 25.1% and rose 7.7%; at district level: 10541 billion dongs, equaled 29.7% and rose 4.8%; at commune level: 2489 billion dongs, equaled 37.5% and rose 0.3% respectively.

From the beginning of the year to April 20, 2015, FDI attracted 448 newly licensed projects with the registered capital of US $ 2676.3 million, an increase of 14.9% in the number of projects and a decrease of 17.1% in the capital from the similar period last year. At the same time, 167 times of license-granted projects from the previous years were provided with additional capital of US $ 1046.2 million. Thus the total registered capital of both newly and additionally financed projects reached US $ 3722.5 million, reduced by 23.3% against 2014’s same period. Estimated realized FDI capital in four beginning months of the year was estimated to gain US $ 4200 million, rose 5% from the similar period in 2014.

In four beginning months of the year, the manufacturing attracted foreign investors with the registered capital of US $ 2830.5 million, accounting for 76% of the total registered capital; the real estate business attracted US $ 327.7 million, accounting for 8.8%; other industries received US $ 564.3 million, taking 15.2%.

The country in the past four months had 38 provinces and cities directly under the central management which received newly licensed FDI projects from 39 nations and territories.
   
+ Realized investment under the State budget
+ Licensed FDI projects from January 01 to April 20, 2015

5. Government revenues and expenditures

Total estimated government revenues from the beginning of the year to April 15, 2015 achieved 262.3 trillion dongs, equaled 28.8% of the annual estimate, of which domestic revenues reached 196.9 trillion dongs, equaled 30.8%; collecting from crude oil achieved 20 trillion dongs, equaled 21.5%; from export-import balance: 44.4 trillion dongs, equaled 25.4%. Of home revenues, 64.6 trillion dongs were from state enterprises, equaling 29.3% of the yearly estimate; 42.4 trillion dongs were from FDI enterprises (excluding crude oil), equaling 29.8%; 38.2 trillion dongs were from non-state industrial, commercial and non-state service taxes, equaling 32%; 18.4 trillion dongs were from individual income tax, equaling 35.9%; 3.4 trillion dongs were from tax on environment protection, equaling 26.3%; and 14.3 trillion dongs were from land use fee, equaling 36.7%.

Total government expenditures from the beginning of the year to April 15, 2015 reached an estimate of 311.8 trillion dongs, equaled 27.2% of the yearly estimate. Of which, spending for investment development achieved 50.4 trillion dongs, equaled 25.9% (only spending for capital construction reached 49 trillion dongs, equaled 25.7%); spending for economic and social development, national defense and security, state management was estimated to gain 216.6 trillion dongs, equaled 28.2%; paying debts and aids 44.8 trillion dongs, equaling 29.9%.

6. Trade, price and service

a. Retail sales of consumer goods and services

Generally, in four beginning months of the year, total retail sales of consumer goods and services was estimated to reach 1042.4 trillion dongs, increased by 8.8% from the same period last year, if the factor of inflation were excluded, it would be 8%. Of which the state economic sector gained 114.5 trillion dongs, accounted for 11% of the total and grew by 7.7%; the non-state economic sector achieved 893.6 trillion dongs, took 85.7% and by 9%; the FDI sector reached 34.4 trillion dongs, took 3.3% and by 9.5% respectively. By economic activity, retail sales of goods in four months reached 797.3 trillion dongs, accounted for 76.5% of the total and rose 9.7%; accommodation and catering services gained 116.5 trillion dongs, took 11.2% and rose 2.5%; travelling service reached 8.3 trillion dongs, represented 0.8% and dropped by 13.1%; other services achieved 120.3 trillion dongs, accounted for 11.5% and rose 11.8%.
   
+ Total retail sales of consumer goods and services

b. Exports - Imports

Generally, in four beginning months of the year, export turnovers was estimated to reach US $ 50.1, increased by 8.2% from the same period in 2014, of which the domestic economic sector achieved US $ 15 billion, decreased by 1%; the FDI sector (including crude oil) reached US $ 35.1 billion, grew by 12.6%.

About the export market, the United States was the biggest market of Vietnam in four beginning months of the year with US $ 9.9 billion, a rise of 15.5% compared with the same period in 2014. The followings were EU with US $ 9.4 billion, a rise of 10.6%; ASEAN with US $ 6.2 billion, an increase of 2.7%; China with US $ 4.9 billion, a decrease of 1.2%; Japan with US $ 4.5 billion, a drop of 5.8%; South Korea with US $ 2.5 billion, up 20.3%.

Import turnovers in four beginning months of the year reached an estimate of US $ 53.1 billion, rose 19.9% over the last year’s similar period, of which the domestic economic sector gained US $ 20.7 billion, 9.4% increase; the FDI sector achieved US $ 32.4 billion, a rise of 27.8%.

Regarding the import market in four beginning months of the year, China continued to be the largest one with an estimated import turnover of US $ 15.6 billion, a growth of 26% compared with the similar period in 2014. The next were South Korea with US $ 9 billion, up 25%; ASEAN with US $ 8 billion, up 12%; Japan with US $ 5 billion, up 39.1%; EU with US $ 3 billion, up 13.4%; the United States with US $ 2.5 billion, up 18.3%.

Generally, in four beginning months of 2015, trade deficit was estimated to reach nearly US $ 3 billion, equaled 6% of export turnovers (a trade surplus of US $ 2 billion in the same period last year), of which the domestic economic sector had a trade deficit of US $ 5.7 billion, higher than the trade deficit of US $ 3.8 billion in 2014’s same period; the FDI sector (including crude oil) had a trade surplus of US $ 2.7 billion, lower than the trade surplus of US $ 5.8 billion in the last year’s identical period.

The cause of trade deficit in four beginning months of this year was mainly low export growth due to fall in crude oil prices making the export turnovers of crude oil dropped US $ 1 billion; exports of agricultural products declined in both volume and value, while imports rose sharply, especially the group of machinery and equipment with a increased turnover of nearly US $ 3 billion.
   
+ Exports
+ Imports

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

April’s CPI grew by 0.14% from the previous month. Of groups of goods and services, transport had the highest price growth of 2.47%; housing and constructional materials went up by 0.84%; culture, entertainment and tourism by 0.32%; medicines and health services by 0.19%; family appliances by 0.16%; garments, hats, footgear by 0.14%. Other groups of goods and services had CPI lower than the general growth rate or decreased, including: education up 0.01%; drinks and tobacco down 0.01%; postal and communicational service down 0.09%; food and catering service down 0.42% (grain food reduced by 0.31% and foodstuff by 0.54%, making general CPI decreased by 0.16%).

CPI in April 2015 rose 0.04% from December 2014 and rose 0.99% from the same period last year. Average CPI in four beginning months of the year went up 0.8% compared with the figures in 2014’s identical period.

Gold price indexes in April 2015 decreased by 1.04% from the previous month; grew by 0.53% over December 2014 and dropped by 5.36% against the same period last year. US dollar price indexes in April 2015 increased by 0.74% from the previous month; went up 0.93% from December 2014 and rose 2.11% compared to 2014’s similar period.
   
+ Consumer price indexes, gold, US dollar price indexes and core inflation in April 2015

d. Carriage of passengers and cargos

Passenger carriage in four beginning months of the year was estimated to reach 1067.4 million arrivals, raised by 7.1% and 47.9 billion passengers-kilometers, by 6.5% from the same period in 2014. Of which central transport reached 11.1 million passengers, increased by 3% and 12 billion passengers-kilometers, by 6%; local transport gained 1056.3 million passengers, grew by 7.1% and 35.9 billion passengers-kilometers, by 6.7%. Four months’ estimated passenger transport by road achieved 1006.4 million passengers, grew by 7.3% and 35.3 billion passengers-kilometers, by 6.8% from the same period last year; transport by air reached 6.6 million passengers, by 6.9% and  10.3 billion passengers-kilometers, by 6%; transport by rail gained 3.5 million passengers, down 4.7% and 1.3 billion passengers-kilometers, up 5.2%; transport by sea gained 1.8 million passengers, 2.4% increase and 85.3 million passengers-kilometers,  2.3% increase.

Cargo carriage in four beginning months of the year reached an estimate of 356.2 million tons, rose 5.4% and 70.1 billion tons-kilometers, rose 1.8% from the last year’ same period. Of which the domestic transport gained 347 million tons, increased by 5.6% and 29.1 billion tons-kilometers, by 6.5%; overseas transport reached 9.1 million tons, decreased by 0.3% and 41 billion tons-kilometers, by 1.4%. Cargo transport by road was estimated to obtain 274.6 million tons, grew by 5.9% and 14.4 billion tons-kilometers, by 6.8%; river: 60.7 million tons, up 4.9% and 11.9 billion tons-kilometers, up 5.5%; sea: 18.5 million tons, up 0.7% and 42.2 billion tons-kilometers, down 1.3%; rail: 2.3 million tons, 4.5% increase and 1.4 billion tons-kilometers, 18.9% increase.
   
+ Carriage of passengers and cargos

e. International visitors to Vietnam

Estimated number of international visitors to Vietnam in four beginning months of the year reached 2.7 million arrivals, reduced by 12.2% from the last year’ same period, of which visitors coming by airway reached 2235 thousand arrivals, a decrease of 9%; by road: 439.1 thousand arrivals, a decline of 24.9%; by sea: 24.2 thousand arrivals, a decrease of 29.8%.

In four beginning months of the year, visitors to Vietnam from Asia achieved 1733.7 thousand arrivals, fell by 12.9% over the similar period last year. Visitors from Europe gained an estimate of 449.3 thousand arrivals, went down 8.4% from the last year’s identical period. Visitors from America reached 229.5 thousand arrivals, increased by 3% against the same period last year.
   
+ International visitors to Vietnam

6. Social issues

a. Farmers’ food shortage

In April 2015, the country had 33.6 thousand households suffering from food shortage, corresponding with 142.4 thousand persons suffering hunger. Compared to the figures in 2014’s same period, the number of households suffering from food shortage dropped by 17%; the number of persons suffering hunger fell by 20.9%. To overcome the problem, in the month, all administrative levels, sectors and localities provided difficult families with 12.1 thousand tons of food and 8.5 billion dongs, only in April about 2.4 thousand tons of food.

b. Epidemic diseases and food poisoning

In four beginning months of the year, the country had over 12.7 thousand cases of hand, foot, mouth disease; 9.2 thousand cases of hemorrhagic fever; 136 cases of virus encephalitis (04 died); 81 cases of typhoid; 24 cases of meningococcal disease (02 died). From the beginning of the year, there were no more new cases of A (H5N1) flu recorded.

In the month, 1300 HIV-infected cases were found, total number of living HIV-infected persons over the country as of April 17, 2015 was 224600, of which 75900 cases turned to AIDS. The number of persons died of AIDS over the country as of above time was 77600.

From the beginning of the year, the country had 32 serious cases of food poisoning, infecting 1074 persons, of which 10 cases died.

c. Traffic accidents

Generally, in four beginning months of the year, the country had 7584 cases of traffic accidents, including 3495 cases of traffic accidents and 4089 cases of traffic crashing, killing 3027 persons, injuring 2137 persons and injuring slightly 4933 others. In comparison with the same period last year, cases of the traffic accidents in four months decreased by 12.2% (cases of traffic accidents less serious and more reduced by 3.2%; cases of traffic collision by 18.7%); the death fell by 4.6%; the injured persons by 10.3%; slightly injured persons by 19.5%. On average, each day in four beginning months of the year, the country had 63 cases of traffic accident, including 29 cases of traffic accidents and 34 cases of traffic crashing, killing 25 persons and injuring 18 persons and injuring somewhat 41 others.

d. Damage by natural calamity

Generally, in four beginning months of the year, natural calamity made 900 houses flooded, blown off, unroofed; 7.9 hectares of rice and 2.5 hectares of vegetables damaged. Total value of damage caused by the disaster in four months was estimated 270 billion dongs.

e. Environment protection, fire and explosion

In four beginning months of the year, the country had 1148 cases of fire and explosion, killing 37 persons and injuring 88 others, total value of damage was estimated 252.9 billion dongs.

In April 2015, authorities found 640 cases of violating regulations of environment protection, of which 292 cases were treated with total fine of over 24.7 billion dongs.

GENERAL STATISTICS OFFICE

[1] In the last year’s same period, the mining and quarrying fell by 2.4%; the manufacturing increased by 7.5%; the power generation and supply by 10.6 %; the water

supply and waste treatment by 5.8% respectively.

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