SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SITUATION IN FIVE BEGINNING MONTHS OF 2015

As of mid-May, provinces in the South harvested 1915.4 thousand hectares of winter-spring rice, equaling 99% from the same period last year. The estimated production achieved an estimate of 13.5 million tons. Along with this, South provinces sowed 1143.8 thousand hectares of summer-autumn rice, equaling 91% against the similar period last year.

As of mid-May, the country cultivated 715.7 thousand hectares of maize, equaling 103.9% from the last year’s identical period; 88.4 thousand hectares of sweet potato, equaling 96.2%; 160.7 thousand hectares of peanut, equaling 100.7%; 57.2 hectares of soybean, equaling 87.8%; 568.3 thousand hectares of vegetables, equaling 103.2%.

According to results of the husbandry survey, as of April 01, 2015, the country had 2.6 million buffalos, equaling 99.6% from the same period in 2014; 5.3 million oxen, equaling 102.7%; only flock of dairy cows continued to put up with 253.7 thousand heads and 26% increase; 27.1 million pigs, equaling 102.8%; 327 million fowls, equaling 104%.
   
+ Agricultural production as of May 15, 2015

b. Forestry

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, the concentrated forest area reached 56.3 thousand hectares, rose 14.4% from the same period last year; the number of dispersedly planted trees reached 93.1 million, grew by 0.2%; wood production gained 2528 thousand m3, increased by 8.2%.

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, damaged forest area was 1043 hectares, decreased by 33% from the same period last year, of which fired forest area was 722 hectares, reduced by 45%; destroyed forest area was 321 hectares, increased by 33%.

c. Fishery

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, total estimated fishing production achieved 2424.9 thousand tons, grew by 3.1% from the similar period last year, of which farmed production gained 1118 thousand tons, went up by 1.8%; caught production reached 1306.9 thousand tons, rose 4.2% (1244 thousand tons came from sea catching, rose 4.4%). Tuna yield was estimated to gain 10.5 thousand tons, 2% increase over the last year’s identical period.

2. Industry

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, Industrial Production Index (IPI) increased by 9.2% from the same period last year, and this was much higher than the growth of two recent years’ similar period[1]. Of industries, the mining and quarrying rose 6.3%, contributed 1.4 percentage points to the general growth rate; the manufacturing grew by 9.9%, contributed 7 percentage points; the power generation and supply went up by 10.9%; contributed 0.7 percentage points; the water supply and waste treatment rose 6.3%, contributed 0.1 percentage points.

Consumption index for the whole manufacturing in April 2015 went up by 1% from the previous month and by 9.3% from the similar period last year. Generally, in four beginning months of the year, consumption index of this industry grew by 12.8% from the same period in 2014. Stock index for the whole manufacturing as of May 01, 2015 rose 11.5% compared to 2014’s identical period, lower than the growth rate of 12.6% in the last year’s equivalent period.

The number of laborers working for industrial enterprises as of May 01, 2015 went up by 7.1% from the last year’s similar period, of which the state sector increased by 0.9%; the non-state sector grew by 4.5%, and the FDI sector put up by 10.6%. As of above time, labor employed index (LEI) of the mining and quarrying fell by 2.6% from the previous year’s similar period; the manufacturing grew by 8.1%; the power generation and supply by 0.7%; the water supply and waste treatment by 3.2% 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 five beginning months of the year, the country had 36055 enterprises registered for new establishment with a total registered capital of 219.3 trillion dongs, an increase of 15.5% in the number of businesses and an increase of 26.3% in the registered capital over the equivalent period in 2014. In addition, there were 8610 times of enterprises changed to raise the capital with the total additional registered capital of 261.3 trillion dongs. The average registered capital per enterprise achieved 6.1 billion dongs, rose 9.4% over the same period last year. The expected number of laborers provided with job in the newly established enterprises in five beginning months of the year was 518.4 thousand persons, grew by 14.6% from the same period in 2014.

In five beginning months of the year, there were 3884 enterprises which finished the procedure for dissolving, terminating business activities, a decrease of 0.5% from the same period in 2014, most of them are small-scale businesses with a registered capital of less than 10 billion dongs (accounting 93.1%). By types of business, of the total number of enterprises which finished the procedure for dissolving, terminating operations, there were 1384 one-member limited liability companies (accounting for 35.6%); 1068 two-member limited liability companies (accounting for 27.5%); 849 private enterprises (accounting for 21.9%) and 583 joint-stock companies (representing 15%).

There were 22705 enterprises having difficulty forced to temporarily cease operations in five beginning months of the year, a decrease of 5.3% from the same period last year, including 7770 enterprises registered for time-limited temporary cessation of operations; 14935 enterprises suspended businesses waiting for closing the enterprise code or without registration. Of enterprises having difficulty forced to temporarily cease operations, there were 7924 one-member limited liability companies (accounting for 34.9%); 7518 two-member limited liability companies (accounting for 33.1%); 3910 joint-stock companies (taking 17.2%) and 3353 private enterprises (representing 14.8%). There were up to 94% of enterprises having difficulty forced to suspend operations with the capital scale of less than 10 billion dongs.

In five beginning months of this year, the country had 7404 enterprises re-operated, an increase of 5.9% from the similar period in 2014. This continued to show positive signals from the economy, create more business and investment opportunities for struggling businesses.

4. Investment

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, realized investment capital from the State budget reached 71.4 trillion dongs, equaled 35.2% of the yearly plan and increased by 5.4% from 2014’s same period. Of which the capital under central management gained 13634 billion dongs, equaled 33.5% of the annual plan and increased by 3.7% from the same period last year; the capital under local management achieved 57785 billion dongs, equaled 35.7% of the yearly plan and grew by 5.8% over the similar period in 2014.

From the beginning of the year to May 20, 2015, FDI attracted 592 newly licensed projects with the registered capital of US $ 2956.8 million, an increase of 18.4% in the number of projects and a decrease of 19.4% in the capital from the similar period in 2014. At the same time, 210 times of license-granted projects from the previous years were provided with additional capital of US $ 1340.8 million. Thus the total registered capital of both newly and additionally financed projects reached US $ 4297.6 million, reduced by 22% against 2014’s same period. Estimated realized FDI capital in five beginning months of the year was estimated to gain US $ 4950 million, rose 7.6% from 2014’s similar period.

In five beginning months of the year, the manufacturing attracted the largest number of FDI projects with the registered capital of US $ 3155.3 million, accounting for 73.4% of the total registered capital; the real estate business attracted US $ 461.5 million, accounting for 10.7%; other industries received US $ 680.8 million, taking 15.9%.

The country had 38 provinces and cities directly under the central management which received newly licensed FDI projects from 46 nations and territories.

+ Realized investment under the State budget
+ Licensed FDI projects from January 01 to May 20, 2015

5. Government revenues and expenditures

Total estimated government revenues from the beginning of the year to May 15, 2015 achieved 340.3 trillion dongs, equaled 37.4% of the annual estimate, of which domestic revenues reached 253.8 trillion dongs, equaled 39.8%; collecting from crude oil achieved 26.2 trillion dongs, equaled 28.2%; from export-import balance: 59.2 trillion dongs, equaled 33.8%. Of home revenues, 81.5 trillion dongs were from state enterprises, equaling 36.9% of the yearly estimate; 53.8 trillion dongs were from FDI enterprises (excluding crude oil), equaling 37.7%; 49.7 trillion dongs were from non-state industrial, commercial and non-state service taxes, equaling 41.5%; 24 trillion dongs were from individual income tax, equaling 46.7%; 4.9 trillion dongs were from tax on environment protection, equaling 37.6%; and 19.2 trillion dongs were from land use fee, equaling 49.2%.

Total government expenditures from the beginning of the year to May 15, 2015 reached an estimate of 408 trillion dongs, equaled 35.6% of the yearly estimate.

Of which, spending for investment development achieved 64.2 trillion dongs, equaled 32.9% (only spending for capital construction reached 62.6 trillion dongs, equaled 32.9%); spending for economic and social development, national defense and security, state management was estimated to gain 218.9 trillion dongs, equaled 36.7%; paying debts and aids 58.9 trillion dongs, equaling 39.2%.

6. Trade, price and service

a. Retail sales of consumer goods and services

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, total retail sales of consumer goods and services was estimated to reach 1304.5 trillion dongs, increased by 9.1% from the same period last year (if the factor of inflation were excluded, it would be 8.2%). Of which the state economic sector gained 144 trillion dongs, accounted for 11% of the total and grew by 9.7%; the non-state economic sector achieved 1117.3 trillion dongs, took 85.7% and by 8.9%; the FDI sector reached 43.2 trillion dongs, took 3.3% and by 9.7% respectively.

Retail sales of goods in five beginning months of the year was estimated to reach 996.9 trillion dongs, accounted for 76.4% of the total and increased by 10.2% from the same period last year.

+ Total retail sales of consumer goods and services

b. Exports - Imports

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, estimated export turnovers reached US $ 63.2 billion, increased by 7.3% from the same period in 2014, of which the domestic economic sector achieved US $ 18.8 billion, decreased by 2.7%; the FDI sector (including crude oil) reached US $ 44.4 billion, grew by 12.2%.

About the export market, the United States continued to be the biggest market of Vietnam with US $ 12.7 billion, a rise of 17.6% compared to the same period in 2014. The following were EU: US $ 11.8 billion, a rise of 8.6%; ASEAN: US $ 7.7 billion, a decrease of 3.5%; China: US $ 6.1 billion, a decline of 1.2%; Japan: US $ 5.7 billion, down 6%; South Korea: US $ 3.1 billion, up 25%.

Estimated import turnovers in five beginning months of the year reached US $ 66.2 billion, went up by 15.8% from the same period last year, of which the domestic economic sector gained US $ 26.5 billion, 6.3% increase; the FDI sector achieved US $ 39.7 billion, 23.2% increase. Regarding the import market in five beginning months of the year, China was the largest one with an estimated import turnover of US $ 19.5 billion, a growth of 19.1% over the similar period in 2014. The next were South Korea: US $ 11.3 billion, up 27.7%; ASEAN: US $ 9.9 billion, up 7.2%; Japan: US $ 6.1 billion, up 31.6%; EU: US $ 3.6 billion, up 2.9%; the United States: US $ 3.1 billion, up 13.5%.

Generally, in five beginning months of 2015, estimated trade deficit was US $ 3 billion, equaled 4.7% of export turnovers, of which the domestic economic sector had a trade deficit of US $ 7.7 billion; the FDI sector had a trade surplus of US $ 4.7 billion.

+ Exports
+ Imports

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

May’s CPI grew by 0.16% from the previous month. Of groups of goods and services, housing and constructional materials had the highest growth of 1.27%; transport grew by 1.02%; culture, entertainment and tourism by 0.39%; drinks and tobacco by 0.2%. Other groups of goods and services had CPI lower than the general growth rate or decreased, including: garments, hats, footgear up 0.14%; family appliances up 0.13%; medicines and health services up 0.03%; postal and communicational service up 0.01%; education with the stable index; food and catering service down 0.22% (grain food reduced by 0.46% and foodstuff by 0.29%, making general CPI decrease by 0.11%).

CPI in May 2015 rose 0.2% from December 2014 and rose 0.95% from the same period last year. Average CPI in five beginning months of the year went up by 0.83% compared with the figures in 2014’s identical period.

Gold price indexes in May 2015 decreased by 0.27% from the previous month; grew by 0.25% over December 2014 and dropped by 4.8% against the same period last year. US dollar price indexes in May 2015 increased by 0.36% from the previous month; jumped up by 1.29 % from December 2014 and rose 2.51% compared to 2014’s similar period.

+ Consumer price indexes, gold, US dollar price indexes and core inflation in May 2015

d. Carriage of passengers and cargos

Passenger carriage in five beginning months of the year was estimated to reach 1342.8 million arrivals, raised by 7.5% and 59.8 billion passengers-kilometers, by 7.3% from the same period in 2014. Of which central transport reached 14 million passengers, increased by 4% and 14.8 billion passengers-kilometers, by 7.2%; ocal transport gained 1328.8 million passengers, grew by 7.5% and 45 billion passengers-kilometers, by 7.3%. Five months’ estimated passenger transport by road achieved 1266.3 million passengers, grew by 7.7% and 44.3 billion passengers-kilometers, by 7.4% from the same period last year; transport by air reached 8.2 million passengers, by 8.9% and  12.7 billion passengers-kilometers, by 7.9%; transport by rail gained 4.4 million passengers, fell by 5% and 1.6 billion passengers-kilometers, went up by 1.5%; transport by sea gained 2.3 million passengers, 2.7% increase and 108.4 million passengers-kilometers,  2.6% increase.

Cargo carriage in five beginning months of the year reached an estimate of 450.8 million tons, rose 5.6% and 87.3 billion tons-kilometers, rose 1.6% from the last year’ same period. Of which the domestic transport gained 438.6 million tons, increased by 5.7% and 35.5 billion tons-kilometers, by 6.8%; overseas transport reached 12.2 million tons, grew by 0.2% and 51.8 billion tons-kilometers, fell by 1.7%. Cargo transport by road was estimated to obtain 347.4 million tons, grew by 6.1% and 18.2 billion tons-kilometers, by 6.9%; river: 76.9 million tons, up 4.7% and 15.1 billion tons-kilometers, up 5.7%; sea: 23.6 million tons, up 1.6% and 52.1 billion tons-kilometers, down 1.5%; rail: 2.8 million tons, 0.2% increase and 1.8 billion tons-kilometers, 10.3% increase.

+ Carriage of passengers and cargos

e. International visitors to Vietnam

Estimated number of international visitors to Vietnam in five beginning months of the year reached 3275.2 thousand arrivals, reduced by 12.6% from the last year’ same period, of which visitors coming by airway reached 2693.7 thousand arrivals, a decrease of 9.8%; by road: 555.7 thousand arrivals, a decline of 23.1%; by sea: 25.8 thousand arrivals, a decrease of 34.4%.

In five beginning months of the year, visitors to Vietnam from Asia achieved 2152.4 thousand arrivals, fell by 12.8% over the similar period last year. Visitors from Europe gained an estimate of 525 thousand arrivals, went down 7.3% from the last year’s identical period.

+ International visitors to Vietnam

7. Social issues

a. Farmers’ food shortage

In May 2015, the country had 50.6 thousand households suffering from food shortage, corresponding with 203.5 thousand persons suffering hunger. Compared with the figures in the last year’s same period, the number of households suffering from food shortage increased by 23.1%; the number of persons suffering hunger went up by 12.4%. To overcome the problem, from the beginning of the year, all administrative levels, sectors and localities provided difficult families with 15.2 thousand tons of food and 8.5 billion dongs, only in May about 3.1 thousand tons of food.

b. Epidemic diseases and food poisoning

In five beginning months of the year, the country had 16.1 thousand cases of hand, foot, mouth disease; 10.9 thousand cases of hemorrhagic fever; 248 cases of virus encephalitis (10 died); 122 cases of typhoid; 36 cases of meningococcal disease (03 died). From the beginning of the year, there were no more new cases of A (H5N1) flu recorded.

In the month, 1800 HIV-infected cases were found, total number of living HIV-infected persons over the country as of May 17, 2015 was 225.4 thousand, of which 76.9 thousand cases turned to AIDS. The number of persons died of AIDS over the country as of above time was 78.6 thousand.

From the beginning of the year, the country had 42 serious cases of food poisoning, infecting 1898 persons, of which 10 cases died.

c. Traffic accidents

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, the country had 9318 cases of traffic accidents, including 4293 cases of traffic accidents and 5025 cases of traffic crashing, killing 3735 persons, injuring 2515 persons and injuring slightly 6039 others. In comparison with the same period last year, cases of the traffic accidents in five months decreased by 13.5% (cases of traffic accidents less serious and more reduced by 3.9%; cases of traffic collision by 20.3%); the death fell by 4.9%; the injured persons by 13.1%; slightly injured persons by 21.2%. On average, each day in five beginning months of the year, the country had 61 cases of traffic accident, including 28 cases of traffic accidents and 33 cases of traffic crashing, killing 25 persons and injuring 17 persons and injuring somewhat 40 others.

d. Damage by natural calamity

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, natural calamity made 10 persons died and lost, 16 persons injured; nearly 3700 houses flooded, blown off, unroofed; 11 hectares of rice and 3.6 hectares of vegetables flooded and damaged. Total value of damage caused by the disaster in five months was estimated 364 billion dongs.

e. Environment protection, fire and explosion

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, the country had 1396 cases of fire and explosion, killing 48 persons and injuring 109 others, total value of damage was estimated 281.1 billion dongs.

In May 2015, authorities found 869 cases of violating regulations of environment protection, of which 395 cases were treated with total fine of over 10 billion dongs.

GENERAL STATISTICS OFFICE

[1] 2013’s: 4.9% increase; 2014’s: 5.7% increase.
[2] Source: National Business Registration System, Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI).