SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SITUATION IN THE TWO FIRST MONTHS OF 2013

Together with this, provinces in Mekong Delta were entering harvesting early winter-spring rice crop. As of this period, the region harvested 281,000 ha, increasing 32.6percent from last year’ same period and representing 17.6percent of sown area. Estimated productivity rose 100-200 kg/ha against winter-spring crop in 2012 .

The speed of cultivating vegetables for winter-spring crop was generally faster than that in the same period last year. As of February15, provinces over the country cultivated 223,500 ha of maize, equaling 105percent; 64,600 ha of sweet potato, equaling 101.1percent; 48,800 ha of soybean, equaling 64.5percent; 94,900 ha of peanut, equaling 100.7percent; and 355,200 ha of vegetables, equaling 107.9percent against the same period last year.

Animal husbandry in the month was rather stable. The country’s estimated flock of buffalos and oxen declined 4percent from last year’ same period, pigs decreased about 2-3percent; poultry by 3-4percent.
   
+ Agricultural production as of February 15, 2013

Forestry

In the two beginning months of the year, the country’s forest concentrated area was estimated to reach 1,225 ha, rose 6.5percent from the same period last year; dispersed planted trees reached 31.8 million, rose 3.5percent; wood production 643,000 m3, rose 8.4percent; firewood production 5,100,000 Ste, rose 3.2percent.

Generally, in 2 months of 2013 damaged forest area was 317.2 ha, of which burnt area was 281.4 ha; destroyed area was 35.8 ha.

Fishery

Generally, estimated fishing production in 2 months reached 722,500 tons, rose 0.4percent from the same period in 2012, of which farmed products reached 309,700 tons, rose 1.7percent, caught products reached 412,800 tons, rose 2percent.

Industry

February’s Industrial Production Index (IPI) was estimated to much decrease 21.3percent from January and by 10.1percent from last year‘ same period. However, IPI in 2 months in general still rose 6.8percent from last year‘ same period, of which the mining and quarrying rose 1.8percent (in the same period in 2012 it rose 7.7percent); the manufacturing by 7.9percent (in the same period in 2012 it rose 6.7percent); the power by 11.7percent (in the same period in 2012 it rose 11.7percent) and the water supply and wastes treatment by 9.9percent.

Taking part in 68percent general growth in 2 months, the mining and quarrying contributed 0.4 point percent, the manufacturing 5.5 points percent, the power 0.8 point percent.

Consumption index for the manufacturing in January 2013 rose 24.1percent from the same period last year and by1.1percent from the previous month. Stock index as of 01/02/2013 rose 19.9percent from last year’ same period.

+ Industrial Production Index
+ Main industrial products

Investment

Generally, two months’ realized investment capital from the state budget reached 20,118 billion dongs, equaling 10.5percent of the yearly plan and decreased 8.1percent from the same period in 2012. Of which, capital under central management was 3,823 billion dongs, equaling 8.1percent of the yearly plan and decreasing 29,9percent from the same period last year; capital under local management was 16,295 billion dongs, 11.3percent and 0.8percent respectively.

Attracted FDI from the beginning of the year to 20/02/2013 reached 630.3 million USD, equaling 38.1percent from last year’ same period. Of which, the registered capital of 99 newly licensed projects was 532 million USD (equaling 81.8percent of licensed projects and 46.1percent of the registered capital against the same period last year); additional registered capital of 31 times of projects licensed from previous years was 98.3 million USD. Estimated realized FDI in 2 beginning months of this year was 1,050 million USD, rose 5percent from the same period in 2012.

In two months of the year, the manufacturing attracted FDI from foreign investors to Viet Nam with registered capital reaching 409 million USD, represented 64.9percent of total registered capital; the health and social aids with 80 million USD represented 12.7percent; the real estate business with 50.2 million USD represented 8percent; and other sectors with 91.1 million USD represented 14.4percent.

In two months, 16 provinces and cities over the country had newly licensed FDI projects from 20 foreign countries and territories.

+ Realized investment from the state budget
+ Licensed FDI projects, 01/01- 20/2/2013

Trade, prices & services

Total retailed sales of consumer goods and services

Two months’ total retailed sales of consumer goods and services were at an estimation of 422.2 trillion dongs, rose 10.9percent from last year’ same period, it would be 3.6percent if the factor of price rise were excluded. Of which, the trade business gained 328.2 trillion dongs, represented 77.7percent of the total and rose 10.4percent; the hotel and restaurant 48.8 trillion dongs, 11.6percent and by 13percent; the service 41.7 trillion dongs, 9,9percent and by 14.5percent; the tourist 3.5 trillion dongs, 0.8percent and declined 4.4percent respectively.

+ Total retail sales of consumer goods and services

Exports-Imports

Generally, two months’ export turnovers reached 19 billion USD, rose 23.9percent from last year ‘same period, of which the domestic economic sector reached 6.8 billion USD, rose 18.2percent; the FDI sector (including crude oil) 12.2 billion USD and rose 27.3percent.

Generally, two months’ import turnovers reached 17.3 billion USD, rose 10.2percent from last year ‘same period, of which the domestic economic sector reached 8.1 billion USD, rose 7.2percent; and the FDI sector gained 9.2 billion USD, rose 12.9percent.

Two months’ trade surplus reached estimated 1.68 billion USD, equaling 8.8percent of total export turnovers, of which trade surplus of the FDI sector (including crude oil) reached 2.96 billion USD while trade deficit still belonged to the domestic economic sector with nearly 1.3 billion USD.

+ Exports
+ Imports

Consumer price indexes (CPI)

February’s CPI rose 1.32percent from January, this is the lowest increase compared to that in February in previous years. This month’s CPI rising was mainly due to increasing prices of grain food and foodstuffs resulted from increasing consumption need during the Lunar New Year holiday (Tết); public transport charges were rather high due to increasing demand for traveling during Tết, of which bus ticket rose over 11percent on average; train ticket rose 4percent; Tuyen Quang province rose medical service charges to 138.61percent according to Joint Circular No. 04/2012/TTLT-BYT-BTC dated 29/2/2012. Groups of goods and services with CPI rising over 1percent were: catering and related service by 2.28percent (grain food by 0.37percent; and foodstuffs by 3percent; outdoor eating and drinking by 1.85percent); drinks and cigarettes by 1.5percent; garments, hats and footgear by 1.08percent. Remaining groups with CPI rising below 1percent or decreased: transport rose 0.81percent family appliances by 0.6percent; medicines and health service by 0.58percent (medical service by 0.63percent); housing and construction materials by 0.45percent; culture, entertainment and tourist by 0.4percent; education by 0.03percent; postal and communication service decreased 0.03percent.

February’s CPI rose 2.59percent from 12/2012 and by 7.02percent from the same period last year. Two months’ average CPI rose 7.04percent from that in the same period in 2012.

February’s gold price index declined 0.33percent from January; by 2.05percent from 12/2012 and by 1.2percent from the same period in 2012. February’s USD price index rose 0.03percent from January; declined 0.05percent from 12/2012 and by 0.65percent from the same period in 2012.

+ Consumer price indexes, gold & USD price indexes, February 2013

Carriage of passengers and cargos

Two months’ passenger carriage reached estimated 510.4 million arrivals, rose 7.6percent and 22.5 billion passengers-kilometers rose 6.2percent from the same period in 2012. Of which central transport reached 7.1 million participants, fell 2.8percent and 5.4 billion passengers-kilometers rose 1.2percent; local transport reached 503.4 million arrivals, rose 7.7percent and 17 billion passengers-kilometers rose 7.1percent. Two months’ passengers transport by land reached estimated 472 million arrivals, rose 7.9percent and 16.7 billion passengers-kilometers rose 7.6percent from last year’ same period; by river: 33.3 million arrivals, rose 5.4percent and 729 million passengers-kilometers rose 10.8percent; by airway: 2.5 million arrivals, fell 4.8percent and 4.4 billion passengers-kilometers rose 1.5percent; by sea: 1 million arrivals, rose 1.5percent and 59.7 million passengers-kilometers rose 1percent; by rail: 1.7 million arrivals, fell 6.7percent and 609.2 triệu million passengers-kilometers fell 5.2percent.

Two months’ cargo carriage reached estimated 150.4 million tons, rose 5.7percent and 31.4 billion tons-kilometers, reduced 4.1percent from last year’ same period, of which the domestic transport gained 144.7 million tons, rose 6.6percent and 9.9 billion tons-kilometers rose 5.8percent; overseas transport reached 5.8 million tons, decreased 5.9percent and 21.5 billion tons-kilometers fell 6.7percent. Land transport gained 115.3 million tons, rose 7.5percent and 5.8 billion tons-kilometers rose 6.2percent; river transport 28.1 million tons, rose 1.2percent and 2.5 billion tons-kilometers rose 0.7percent; sea transport 6 million tons, declined 6.9percent and 22.5 billion tons-kilometers fell 7.4percent; rail transport 1 million tons, rose 0.1percent and 520.2 million tons.km fell 2.3percent.

+ Carriage of passengers & cargo

International visitors to Viet Nam

International visitors to Viet Nam in two beginning months of 2013 reached estimated 1,213,100 arrivals, decreased  9.6percent from last year’ same period. Of which, visitors coming for tourist purposes were 743,900 arrivals, declined 8percent; for business purposes 204,900 arrivals, decreased 8.4percent; for visiting relatives 200,600 arrivals, decreased 14.3percent.

+ International visitors to Vietnam

Social issues

According to local preliminary reports, more than  6 million rations of gifts costed over 1,937.6 billion dongs were given to preserved and social policy families and 878.4 billion dongs social aids to poor family, invalid and difficult persons.

Epidemic diseases and food poisoning: Generally, the country in two months had 6,900 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease in 58/63 provinces and cities (1 died); 5,500 cases of hemorrhagic fever (8 died); 46 cases of viral encephalitis and 10 cases of typhoid.

More 764 cases infected with HIV were found in the month, bringing total HIV-infected persons over the country as of mid-February 2013 to 264,300, of which 108,500 persons turned to AIDS and 54,400 persons died of AIDS.

The situation of food safety and sanitation was anxious. Generally, the country in the two biginning months of the year had 9 cases of food poisoning infecting 242 persons, of which 3 died.

Traffic accidents: Generally, the country in 2 months had 2,090 cases of traffic accidents, killing 1,925 persons and injuring 1,301 others. Compared to the same period in 2012, cases of traffic accident  rose 7.7percent, the death by 15.6percent and the injured decreased 12.2percent. On average, each day in 2 months the country had 35 cases of traffic accidents, killing 33 persons and injuring 22 others.

Environmental protection and social safety and order: The situation of fires and explosions was very complicated. In the two beginning months of the year, the country had 180 cases of fires and explosions killing and injuring many persons, estimated damage was about 25 billion dongs. Also in the month, functioning authorities discovered 687 cases violating environmental sanitation rules, of which 201 cases were fined over 3.1 billion dongs.

GENERAL STATISTIC OFFICE