SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SITUATION IN FOUR MONTHS OF 2014

As of mid-April, spring rice harvested area in South provinces was 1,473,600 hectares, equaling 87.1% from 2013’s identical period. According to preliminary reports, the region’s rice yield reached 7100 kg/ha, rose 1700 kg/ha from last year’s same crop.

Together with this, provinces in the South also sowed 524,200 ha of summer rice seeds, equaling 64.2% against the similar period last year. As of mid-April, the country cultivated 453,300 ha of maize, equaling 101.8% from 2013 same period; 80,000 ha of sweet potato, equaling 97.8%; 148,100 ha of peanut, equaling 95.7%; 55,300 ha of soybean, equaling 92.1%; 520,800 ha of vegetables, equaling 107.5%.

As estimated, the country’s flock of buffalos in April reduced by 1.5 – 2% from the same period in 2013; flock of oxen reduced by 1% - 1.5%. The country’s flock of pigs in the month rose about 0.5 - 1% from 2013’s identical period.  

b. Forestry

Generally, in four beginning months of the year, the concentrated forest area reached 19,000 ha, rose 29.3% from the same period last year; the number of dispersedly planted trees reached 81.7 million, rose 0.1%; wood production gained 1,635,500 m3, increased by 5.9%; firewood production gained 10.5 cubic meters, rose 2.5%.

Generally, damaged forest area was 675 ha, increased by 51.4%; destroyed forest area was 165 ha, by 87.4%.

c. Fishery

Generally, in four beginning months of the year, estimated fishing production achieved 1,608,000 tons, grew by 3% from the same period in 2013, of which farmed production gained 689,000 tons, went up by 0.2%; caught production reached 920,000 tons, rose 5.3%, of which 872,000 tons came from the sea, rose 5.6%.

2. Industry

Industrial Production Index (IPI) in April was estimated to grow by 6% from the last year’s same period. Generally, in four beginning months of the year, IPI rose 5.4%, higher than the similar period’s growth rate of 4.8% in 2013. Of industries, the manufacturing had a good growth of 7.4%, much higher than the same period’s growth rate of 5.5%  in 2013 and contributed 5.17 percentage points to the general growth rate; the power generation and supply rose 9.6%; contributed 0.66 percentage points; the water supply and waste treatment rose 5.4%, contributed 0.06 percentage points; only the mining and quarrying reduced by 2%, making the overall growth decrease 0.44 percentage points.

Consumption index for the whole manufacturing in March, 2014 had a high growth rate of 14.9% from the previous month. Generally, in three beginning months of the year, consumption index of this industry grew by 5.5% from the same period last year.

As of April 1st, 2014, stock index for the whole manufacturing went up by 13.9% compared to that in the same period in 2013, higher than the growth rate of 13.1% of last year’s equivalent period and 13.4% of the previous month’s identical period. Stock rate for the entire manufacturing on average in three beginning months of the year was 80.7%.

Labor employed index (LEI) for industrial enterprises as of April 1st, 2014 showed a rise of 4.5% from the same period last year, of which the state sector reduced by 1.6%; the non-state sector rose 4%, and the FDI sector 7%.  As of above period, LEI of the mining and quarrying reduced by 1.9% against 2013s identical period; the manufacturing increased by 5.1%; the power generation and supply went up 2.5%; the water supply and waste treatment rose 4.4%.

3. Investment

Generally, in four beginning months of the year, the realized investment capital from the state budget reached 49,730 billion dong, equaling 27.5% of the years plan and reduced by 0.9% from the similar period in 2013 including: the capital under central management reached 9947 billion dong, equaling 25.2% of the annual plan and fell by 0.5% from the last year’s same period; the capital under local management achieved 39,783 billion dong, equaling 28.2% of the yearly plan and dropped by 1% from 2013’s identical period. Of which capital from the state budget at provincial level reached 27,821 billion dong, equaling 26.9% and decreased 0.6%; district level: 9609 billion dong, equaling 30.9% and declined 1.3%; commune level: 2353 billion dong, equaling 35.6% and down 3.8% respectively.

FDI from the beginning of the year to April 20, 2014 attracted 390 newly licensed projects with the registered capital of USD 3228.2 million, reduced by 5.3% in the number of projects and by 34.6% in capital from the same period in 2013. Besides, 140 times of license-granted projects from previous years was provided with additional capital of USD 1627 million. Therefore, the total registered capital of both newly and additionally financed projects reached USD 4855.2 million, decreased by 40.9% from the same period in 2013. Estimated realised FDI capital in four beginning months of the year achieved USD 4 billion, increased by 6.7% from 2013’s similar period.

In four beginning months of the year, the manufacturing attracted foreign investors with the registered capital of USD 3609.2 million, accounted for 74.3% of total registered capital; the real estate business received USD 392.3 million, accounted for 8.1%; other industries gained USD 853.7 million, took 17.6%.

The country had 40 provinces and cities directly under the central management which received newly licensed FDI projects in four past months from 28 nations and territories.

4. Government revenues and expenditures

Total estimated government revenues from the beginning of the year to April 15, 2014 reached 236.1 trillion dong, equaling 30.2% of the yearly estimate, of which domestic revenues gained 163.5 trillion dong, equaled 30.3%; collecting from crude oil achieved 31.4 trillion dong, equaled 36.9%; from export-import balance achieved 40.3 trillion dong, equaled 26.1%. Of home revenues, 54 trillion dong was from state enterprises, equaling 29.3% of the annual estimate; 36.6 trillion dong from FDI enterprises (excluding crude oil), equaling 32.8%; 35 trillion dong from non-state industrial, commercial and service taxes, equaling 32.7%; 15.6 trillion dong from individual income tax, equaling 33%; 3.2 trillion dong from tax on environment protection, equaling 25.2%; and 2.8 trillion dong from other fees, equaling 27.2%.

Total estimated government expenditures from the beginning of the year to April 15, 2014 reached 266.2 trillion dong, equaled 26.4% of the annual estimate. Of which spending for investment development achieved 38.3 trillion dong, equaled 23.5% (only spending for capital construction investment was 37 trillion dong, equaled 23.4%); spending for economic and social development, national defense and security was estimated to reach 194.1 trillion dong, equaled 27.6%; for paying debts and aids 33.8 trillion dong, equaled 28.1%.

5. Trade, price and service

a. Total retailed sales of consumer goods and services.

Generally, in four beginning months of the year, total retail sales of consumer goods and services achieved 939.6 trillion dong, rose 10.5% from the same period last year (if the factor of inflation were excluded, it would be 5.5%, higher than the growth rate of 4.7% of 2013’s same period). Retailed sales of consumer goods and services in four months of the FDI sector reached 35.2 trillion dong, accounted for 3.7% of the total, highest growth of 26.9% due to strong position in business space competition, retail utilities and provision of services; the state sector reached 92.8 trillion dong, accounted for 9.9% of the total and rose 9.1%; non-state sector reached 811.7 trillion dong, took 86.4%, raised by 10%.  The tourist service achieved 9.9 trillion dong. Although it took a low proportion of 1% of the total, but it gained the highest growth rate of 25.6% because of people’s traveling demands in festivals. The trade business reached 710.6 trillion dong, accounted for 75.6% and increased by 8.5%; hotel and restaurant reached 112.3 trillion dong, accounted for 12% and by 10.4%; service reached 106.9%, accounted for 11.4% and by 24.4% respectively.  

b. Exports - Imports

Generally, in four beginning months of the year, export turnovers gained an estimate of US$ 45.7 billion, grew by 16.9% from the same period in 2013, of which the domestic economic sector achieved US$ 15.4 billion, grew by 16.2% and  the FDI sector (including crude oil) US$30.3 billion, by 17.2%.

Generally, in four beginning months of the year, import turnover was estimated to reach US$ 45.1 billion, rose 13.7% from the identical period last year. Of which the domestic economic sector gained US$ 18.8 billion, represented 41.7% of total import turnovers and rose 8%; the FDI sector reached US$ 26.3 billion, accounted for 58.3% and grew by 18.2%.

Trade surplus in the 1st quarter of this year was US$ 1.1 billion, trade deficit in April was US$ 400 million. Generally, in four beginning months of the year, trade surplus was US$ 683 million, equaling 1.5% of total export turnovers. Among trade surplus in four months, the FDI sector (including crude oil) had the trade surplus of US$ 4.1 billion, rose 11.5% from 2013’s same period; the domestic economic sector had the trade deficit of US$ 3.4 billion, down 18%.

c. Consumer Price Indexes (CPI)

April’s CPI had a slight growth of 0.08% from the previous month. This was in accordance with the rule of consumer  in the same period of several past years[1] (Only in 2008 and 2011, due to the impact of increasing minimum wage, raising international commodity prices, the stimulus policy, the exchange rate management policy CPI had high growth). In groups of goods and services, catering and related service rose 0.15% (grain food reduced by 0.26%; foodstuff grew by 0.27%); garments, hats, footgear increased by 0.26%; family appliances by 0.24%; drinks and tobacco by 0.23%; transport by 0.33%. Remaining groups had lower or decreased CPI compared to the general growth rate, of which education increased by 0.06%; medicines and health services by 0.04%; culture, entertainment and tourist by 0.02%; housing and construction materials reduced by 0.56%;  postal and communicational service by 0.14% respectively.    

CPI in April, 2014 went up by 0.88% from December, 2013 and by 4.45% from the same period last year. Average CPI in four beginning months of the year rose 4.73% compared to that in the identical period in 2013.

April’s gold price index declined by 1.04% from the previous month; raised by 2.25% from December, 2013; reduced by 16.69% from the same period last year. April’s US$ price index fell by 0.06% from the earlier month; by 0.14% from December, 2013 and increased by 0.59% from 2013’s similar period.  

 d. Carriage of passengers and cargos

Passenger carriage in four beginning months of the year was estimated to reach 1000.5 million arrivals, raised by 5.5% and 46.3 billion passengers-kilometers rose 6.2% from the same period in 2013. Of which central transport reached 10.8 million passengers, increased by 6.8% and 11.3 billion passengers-kilometers, by 8.9%; local transport gained 989.7 million passengers, by 5.5% and 35 billion passengers-kilometers, by 5.3%. Four months’ passenger transport by road achieved 938.9 million passengers, grew by 5.7% and 34.1 billion passengers-kilometers, by 5.3% from the same period last year; transport by river: 50 million passengers, by 2.4% and 1.2 billion passengers-kilometers, by 2.2%; transport by air: 6.2 million passengers, by 14.5% and 9.8 billion passengers-kilometers, by 11.4%; transport by sea: 1.8 million passengers, by 2.9% and 79.9 million passengers-kilometers, by 1.2%; transport by rail: 3.6 million passengers, down 3.4% and 1.2 billion passengers-kilometers, down 4.5% respectively.

Four months’ cargo carriage reached an estimate of 335.3 million tons, rose 4.3% and 69.6 billion tons-kilometers, rose 2.1% from the last year’ same period. Of which the domestic transport gained 326.3 million tons, increased by 4.6% and 29.5 billion tons-kilometers,  by 3.9%; overseas transport reached 9 million tons, decreased  by 6.4% and 40.1 billion tons-kilometers, rose 0.8%. Cargo transport by road obtained 257.1 million tons, increased by 5.5% and 14.4 billion tons-kilometers, by 4.2%; river: 58.1 million tons, by 2.8% and 12.3 billion tons-kilometers, by 2.3%; sea: 17.9 million tons, decreased 6.5% and 41.5 billion tons-kilometers,  rose 1.5%; rail: 2.2 million tons, grew 1.1% and 1.2 billion tons-kilometers,  down 2.4%.

e. International visitors to Viet Nam

Estimated number of international visitors to Viet Nam in four beginning months of the year reached 3.1 million arrivals, grew by 27.3% from the last year’ same period. Of which, 2.5 million arrivals came by air, grew by 23.5%, 584,500 arrivals came by road, by 68% and 34,500 arrivals came by sea, down 56.1%. Visitors coming for tourist purposes were 1.9 million arrivals, rose 25.3% from the same period in 2013; business purposes: 516,900 arrivals, increased by 27.2%; visiting relatives: 534,100 arrivals, grew by 33.1%.

6. Social issues

a. Farmers’ food shortage

In April, 2014, the country had 40,500 times of households suffering from food shortage, accounting for 0.35% of total farming households, which equaled 180,000 hunger persons, accounted for 0.36% of whole farming persons. Compared with the figures in 2013’s same period, the number of hunger households reduced by 31.9% and hunger persons slowed down 29.4%. To overcome the problem, from the beginning of the year, all administrative levels, sectors and localities provided difficult families with 14,300 tons of food and 12 billion dong; only in April, about 3000 tons of food and 2 billion dong.

b. Epidemic diseases and food poisoning

Generally, the country in four beginning months of the year had 15.500 cases of hand, foot, mouth disease; 7400 cases of hemorrhagic fever; 83 cases of typhoid; 164 cases of virus encephalitis; eight cases of meningococcal disease (2 died); two cases died of A (H5N1) flu.

As of April 24, 2014, the country had 10,017 measles suspected cases of roseola infantum with 3609 positive cases of measles and 123 deaths related to measles. The rate of children under 2 years old without measles vaccination in localities continued to rise. As of April 18, 2014, the injection of measles vaccine over the country reached 54.6%.

More 1277 HIV-infected cases were found in the month, bringing the number of HIV infected persons over the country as of mid-April, 2014 to 217,800, of which 67,900 turned to AIDS. The number of persons died of AIDS over the country as of above period was 70,200.

Generally, the country in four months had 26 cases of food poisoning, infecting 830 persons, of which seven cases died.  

c. Traffic accidents      

Generally, the country in four beginning months of the year had 3609 cases of the traffic accidents, killing 3173 persons and injuring 2382 others. The number of cases of traffic crashing was 5029, making 6210 persons partly injured. In comparison to the same period last year, cases of the traffic accidents decreased by2. 7%; cases of traffic crashing slowed down 19.8%; the death fell by 4.8%; the injured persons increased by 1.4%; slightly injured persons reduced by 20.4%. On average, the country in each day in four months had 30 cases of traffic accident and 42 cases of traffic crashing, killing 26 persons and injuring 20 persons and injuring somewhat 51 others.

d. Damage by natural calamity

According to preliminary reports, natural calamity in four beginning months of the year (mainly in April) made eight persons died and lost; 20 persons injured; over 10,000 houses collapsed and swept away; 190 ha of rice and 1900 ha of vegetables flooded and damaged. The total value of damage caused by the disaster in four months was estimated over 400 billion dong.  

e. Fire and explosion, environmental protection

Generally, in four beginning months of the year, the country had 1000 serious cases of fire and explosion, killing 44 persons and injuring 80 others. Damage by fire and explosion was at an estimate of about 274.8 billion dong.

Generally, the country in four months found 1767 cases of violating regulations of environmental protection, of which 996 cases were treated with total fine of 25.3 billion dong.

GENERAL STATISTICS OFFICE

[1] CPI in April compared to that in the previous month of some years: in 2006: up 0.2%; in 2007: up 0.49%; in 2008: up 2.2%; in 2009: up 0.35%; in 2010: up 0.14%; in 2011: up 3.32%; in 2012: 0.05%; in 2013: up 0.02%; in 2014: up 0.08%.

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