SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SITUATION, FIVE BEGINNING MONTHS OF 2012

As of mid-May, provinces in the South reaped 1,908,400 ha of spring rice, equaling 96.7% from last year’ same period. Together with this, provinces in the South also sowed seeds for 1,319,400 ha of summer rice, equaling 105.4% from last year’ same period.

Provinces over the country were speeding up cultivation of vegetables. As of mid-May, the country had 591,300 ha of maize, 92,800 ha of sweet potato, 167,200 ha of peanut, 58,700 ha of soybean and 519,100 ha of vegetables cultivated, equaling 87.5%, 94.4%, 93.3%, 50.2% and 103.4% respectively from last year’ same period.

According to animal husbandry survey, as of 01/4/2012, the country had  2.7 million buffalos, down 5.1%; 5.3 million oxen, down 7%; 158,400 cows, up 0.9%; 26.7 million pigs, up 1.5%; 310.7 million heads of poultry, up 5.8%; live-weight buffalo meat production reached 50,400 tons, up 3.7%; live-weight  oxen meat production reached  174,800 tons, down 1.5%; live-weight  pig meat production reached  1.9 million tons, up 4.8%; live-weight poultry meat production reached 439,300 tons, up 13.7% from last year’ same period.
   
+ Agricultural production as of May 15, 2012

b. Forestry

In 5 beginning months of the year, , the country’s concentrated planted area was at an estimation of 39,500 ha, down 1.5%; dispersed planted trees  reached  92.5 million, up 2%, wood production reached 1,821,000 m3, up 9.9%; firewood production reached  12.6 million Ste, up 2.4% from last year‘ same period.

Damaged area was 1,165 ha, rising 3.3 times, of which burnt area was 1,066 ha, rising 5.3 times; destroyed area was 99 ha, equaling 64% from the same period in 2011.

c. Fishery

Generally, 5 months‘ estimated fishing production reached  2,074,500 tons, up 4.3% from last year‘ same period, of which there were 1,598,600 tons of fish, up 3.7% and 182,700 tons of shrimp, up 6.6%. Estimated farmed products reached 1,014,600 tons, up 4.8% from last year‘ same period, of which there were 800,600 tons of fish, up 4.2% and 129,600 tons of shrimp up 7.9%. Estimated caught products reached 1,059,900 tons, up only 3.8% from last year‘ same period, of which sea caught products reached 996,000 tons up 4.2%.

2. Industry

Generally in 5 months, Industrial Production Index (IPI) rose 4.2% from last year’ same period, much lower than paces in the same period in 2010 and 2011 (8.7 and 9.2% respectively). Consumption index for the manufacturing in 4 beginning months of the year rose 3.5% from last year’ same period. Stock index as of 01/5/2012 for the whole manufacturing sector rose 29.4% from last year’ same period. Although this was still high but it trended to decline gradually, from 34.9% in March to 32.1% in April and 29.4% in May.
   
+ Industrial production indexes
+ Main industrial products

3. Investment

Generally, five months’ realized investment capital from the state budget reached 72.994 trillion dongs, equaling 36.4% of the yearly plan and rising 4% from the same period in 2011. Of which, capital under central management was 19.068 billion dongs, equaling 37.5% of the yearly plan and rising 7.9% from last year’ same period; capital under local management was 53.926 billion dongs, equaling 36.1% and rising 2.7% respectively.

Attracted FDI from beginning of the year to 20/5/2012 reached 5,329 million USD, equaling 68.2% from last year’ same period. Of which, the registered capital of 283 newly licensed projects was  4,124.2 million USD, equaling 58% of licensed projects and 74.7% of the registered capital against the same period in 2011; additional registered capital of 82 times of projects licensed from previous years was 1,204.8 million USD. The realized FDI in the first five months of this year was at an estimation of 4.5 billion USD, declined 0.2% from last year’ same period.

In 5 months, 35 provinces and cities over the country had newly licensed FDI projects from 36 countries and territories.
   
+ Realized development investments under State Budget
+ Licensed FDI projects, 01/01- 20/5/2012

4. Government revenues and expenditures

Five months’ total Government revenues were at an estimation of 291.3 trillion dongs, equaling 39.3% of the yearly estimate and rising 3.0% from the same period in 2011, of which domestic revenues accounted for 38.1% of the yearly estimate and rose 1.9%; revenues from crude oil accounted for 51.4% of the yearly estimate and rose 11.8%; from export-import balance: 36.3% of the yearly estimate and rose 0.5%. Of the domestic revenues, many important receiving items had slow progress and low paces against last year’ same period like: receiving from FDI enterprises accounted for 34% of the yearly estimate and up 4.5%; from non-state industrial, commercial and service taxes: 35.8% and up 4.6%; environmental protection tax: 38.2% and up 9.8%…). Some other items had both slow progress and declined paces against last year’ same period like: register fees accounted for 27.5% of the yearly estimate and down 24.8%; land use fees: 31.2% and down 40.7%.

As estimated, 5 months’ total Government expenditures reached 338 trillion dongs, equaling 37.4% of the yearly estimate and rising 10.8% from last year’ same period. Of which spending for investment and development accounted for  36.7% of the yearly estimate and reduced  2.6%; paying debts and aids accounted for 41.8% of the yearly estimate  and rose10.5%; spending for economic and social development, national defense and security (including spending for salary rise) accounted for 38.3% of the yearly estimate  and rose 15.4%.

5. Trade, prices & services

a. Total retailed sales of consumer goods and services

Generally, five months’ total retailed sales of consumer goods and services were at an estimation of 952.2 trillion dongs, up 20.8% from last year’ same period, and it would be  6.6% if the factor of price rise were excluded. Of which, the trade business gained 732.7 trillion dongs, accounted for 76.9% of the total and rose 19.5%; the hotel and restaurant: 108.1 trillion dongs, 11.4% and 18.6%; the service: 101.9 trillion dongs, 10.7% and 34.2%; the tourist: 9.5 trillion dongs, 1% and 23.9% respectively.
   
+ Total retail sales of consumer goods and services

b. Exports-Imports

Generally, five months’ export turnovers reached 42.9 billion USD, rose 24.1% from last year’ same period, of which the domestic economic sector gained 16.8 billion USD, up 8.4% and the FDI sector (including crude oil) reached 26.1 billion USD, up 36.9%. About markets for exportation in 5 beginning months, the United States was the largest one with  7.4 billion USD export turnover, rose 19.8% from the same period in 2011; next came to EU with 7.3 billion USD export turnover, up 21.6%; ASEAN with 6.2 billion USD export turnover up 19.5%; Japan with 5.3 billion USD export turnover up 41.6%; China with 5 billion USD export turnover up 33.3%; Republic of Korea with 2 billion USD export turnover up 9%.

Generally, five months’ import turnovers reached 43.5 billion USD, rose 6.6% from last year ‘same period, of which the domestic economic sector reached 21.3 billion USD, decreased by 7.7%; the FDI sector reached 22.2 billion USD, rose 25.3%. About markets for importation, China was still the largest one with 10.3 billion USD import turnover, rose 12.9% from the same period in 2011; next came to ASEAN with 8.6 billion USD, up 0.9%; Republic of Korea with 5.7 billion USD, up 14.3%; Japan with 4.4 billion USD, up 14,3%; EU with 3.2 billion USD, up 11.6%; the United States with 1.8 billion USD, up 4.2%.

The trade defict in the first 5 months off this year was 622 million USD, equaling 1.5% of total export turnovers.
   
+ Exports
+ Imports
 
c. Consumer price indexes (CPI)

May’s CPI rose 0.18% from April. This pace was the lowest one as compared with that in the same period in previous years[1]. Among groups of goods and services, those having higher CPIs than the general were: transport with highest pace of 1.32%; then culture, entertainment and tourist with 0.63% pace; garments, hats and footgear with 0.58% pace; family appliances with 0.57% pace; drinks and tobacco with 0.43% pace; medicines and health care with 0.33% pace. Education slightly rose 0.07%. Those with declined CPIs were: catering and related services 0.14% (grain food 0.54% and foodstuff 0.26%; outdoor eating and drinking 0.66%); housing and construction material 0.97%.

CPI in May 2012 rose 2.78% from 12/2011 and 8.34% from last year’ same period. Five months’ average CPI rose 13.3% from that in the same period in 2011.

May’s gold index reduced 2.17% from April; 5.6% from 12/2011 and rose 11.78% from last year’ same period. May’s USD index rose 0.06% from April; declined 1% from 12/2011 and 0.19% from the same period in 2011.
   
+ Consumer price indexes. gold & USD price indexes, May 2012

d. Carriage of passengers and cargos

Five months’ passenger carriage was at an estimation of 1,375.4 million participants, rose 14.3% and 56.9 billion passengers-kilometers, rose12.2% from the same period in 2011. Of which central transport gained 18.8 million participants, up 10.2% and 12.5 billion passengers-kilometers, up 9.5%; local transport reached 1,356.6 million participants, up 15.1% and 44.4 billion passengers-kilometers, up 13.1%. Land transport reached 1,275.6 million participants, up 15.4% and 43.6 billion passengers-kilometers, up 13.5%; river transport reached 86.7 million participants, up 0.2% and 1.8 billion passengers-kilometers, up 0.3%; air transport reached 5.9 million participants, up 3.4% and 9.6 billion passengers-kilometers, up10.1%; rail transport reached 4.8 million participants, up  2.9% and 1.7 billion passengers-kilometers, up 3.8%; sea transport reached 2.5 million participants, up 1.7% and 141.4 million passengers-kilometers, up 2.1% from last year’ same period.

Five months’ cargo carriage was at an estimation of 361.2 million tons, rose 10,8% and 79.5 billion tons-kilometers, reduced 6.6% from last year’ same period, of which the domestic transport gained 345.6 million tons, up 13.2% and 27.7 billion tons-kilometers, up 2.9%; the overseas transport reached 15.6 million tons, down 9.9% and 51.8 billion tons-kilometers, down 10.7%. Land transport gained 285 million tons, up 13.2% and 15.3 billion tons-kilometers, up 10.5%; river: 54.8 million tons, up 6.5% and 5,7 billion tons-kilometers, up 6.2%; sea: 18.4 million tons, down 11.7% and 56.6 billion tons-kilometers, down12,6%; rail: 2.9 million tons, down 8.4% and 1.6 billion tons-kilometers, down 8%.
   
+ Carriage of passengers & cargos

e. Postal and communicational services

The number of telephone subscribers over the country as end of 5/2012 was at an estimation of 135 million, up 2.3% from last year’ same period, including15.3 million desk telephone subscribers, down 1.7% and 119.7 million mobile phone subscribers, up 2.9%.

The number of broadband internet subscribers as of end of 5/2012 was at an estimation of 4.4 million, up19.6% from last year’ same period. The number of internet users as of end of this period was at an estimation of 32.3 million, up 13% from the same period in 2011. Five beginning months’ total postal and communicational service net income was at an estimation of 60.3 trillion dongs rose 12.6% from last year’ same period.

f. International visitors to Viet Nam

International visitors to Viet Nam in 5 beginning months were at an estimation of  2,946,000, rose 17.5% from last year’ same period. Of which, visitors coming for tourist purposes were 1,749,300, up 16.7%; for business purposes 508,400 up 21.3%; for visiting relatives 522,500 up 18.1%.
   
+ International visitors to Vietnam

6. Social issues

a. Farmers’ hunger

The country, in May 2012 had 68,300 households suffered from food shortage, rose 11.4% from April and accounted for 0.7% of total agricultural households, in proportion to 288,000 hunger persons, rose 10.6% and accounted for 0.6% of total agricultural members. In comparison with the same period in 2011, hunger families decreased by 5.7% and hunger persons by 6.3%. To overcome the problem, all administrative levels since the beginning of the year have supported hunger households 20,700 tons of food and 23.2 billion dongs, in May only over 1,000 tons of food and 800 million dongs were provided to difficult families.

b. Epidemic diseases and food poisoning

Generally, the country in 5 beginning months of the year had 43,200 cases of foot, hand and mouth disease (22 died); 13,200 cases of hemorrhagic fever (8 died); 92 cases of typhoid; 166 cases of viral encephalitis and 23 cases of meningococcal disease(2 died).

More 1,500 cases infected with HIV were found in the month, bringing total HIV-infected persons over the country as of mid-May 2012 to 255,200, of which 104,100 turned to AIDS and 53,100 died of AIDS.

Generally, in 5 months, there were 41 cases of food poisoning, infecting 1,500 persons, of which 11 died.           

c. Traffic accidents

Generally, the country in 5 beginning months had 4,528 cases of traffic accidents, killing 3,950 persons and injuring 3,323 others. As compared to the same period last year, cases of traffic accident decreased by 20.7%; the death by 17.6% and the injured by  24.7%. On average, each day in 5 beginning months of this year, the country had 30 cases of traffic accidents, killing 26 persons and injuring 22 others.

d. Traffic accidents

Calamity at end of April made 12 persons died and 57 persons injured; nearly 150 houses collapsed and swept away; 12,200 houses flooded, blew off and up; 1,700 ha of rice and 3,400 ha of vegetables flooded and damaged. Total value of damage caused by calamity in the month was at an estimation of 169 billion dongs.

e. Fire, explosion and environmental protection

In 5 beginning months of this year, the country had 620 serious cases of fire and explosion which killed 24 persons, injured 48 others. Damages were over 404 billion dongs.

GENERAL STATISTICS OFFICE