SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SITUATION IN FIVE BEGINNING MONTHS OF 2016

As of mid-May, the Southern provinces harvested 1868.4 thousand hectares of winter-sping rice, equaling 97.6% from the same period last year. Of which the Mekong Delta reached 1555.6 thousand hectares, equaling 99.6%. The winter-spring rice harvest in the Mekong Delta was finished with the estimated output of 10 million tons, down 1.1 million tons from the same crop in 2015.

Along with this, localities in the South sowed 1022.3 thousand hectares of summer-autumn rice, equaling 89.4% from the same period last year, of which the Mekong Delta sowed 945.4 thousand hectares, equaling 88.3%.

As of mid-May, the country cultivated 665.2 thousand hectares of maize, equaling 92.9% from the same period last year; 81.4 thousand hectares of sweet potato, equaling 92.1%; 145.6 thousand hectares of peanut, equaling 90.6%; 42.1 thousand hectares of soya, equaling 73.6%; 591.9 thousand hectares of vegetables, equaling 101%.

The country’s flock of buffaloes in the month was estimated to reduce by 1.5%-2% against the similar period in 2015; flock of oxen rose 1%-1.5%; flock of pigs and poultry had the same growth of about 3%-3.5%.
   
+ Agricultural production as of 15 May 2016

b. Forestry

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, the concentrated planted forest area was estimated to reach 56.7 thousand hectares, down 0.7% against the similar period in 2015; the number of separate planted trees achieved 88.3 million trees, up 0.3%; wood production gained 2854 thousand m3, a rise of 7.4%[1]; firewood production gained 12.5 million ster, an increase of 1%.

Generally, in five beginning months of 2016, damaged forest area was 2255 hectares, 2 times more than it was in 2015’s the same period, of which of which burnt forest area was 1863 hectares, 2.5 times as much as the burnt area in the same period last year; destroyed area was 392 hectares, up 22%.

c. Fishery

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, fishing production was estimated to reach 2454.9 thousand tons, increased by 1.8% over the same period last year, of which production of aquaculture gained 1152.1 thousand tons, up 0.5%; production of fishing caught achieved 1302.8 thousand tons, up 3.1% (Sea catching reached 1239.6 thousand tons, up 3.2%, of which the yield of tuna reached 10.4 thousand tons, down 3.3%).

2. Industry

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, Industrial Production Index (IPI) was increased by 7.5% from the same period last year, lower than the growth of 9.4% in 2015’s similar period[2]. Of which the manufacturing climbed by 9.7%, contributed 6.8 percentage

points to the overall growth rate; the electricity power generation and distribution rose 12%, contributed 0.8 percentage points; the water supply and sewage treatment went up by 8.5%, contributed 0.1 percentage points; only the mining and quarrying fell by 1.2%, reduced 0.2 percentage points of the general growth rate.

Generally, in four beginning months of the year, consumption index for the manufacturing increased by 9.3% over the identical period in 2015. Stock index for the entire manufacturing as of 01 May 2016 went up by 8.7% from the same period in 2015 (lower than the growth of 11.5% in the same period last year). Average stock rate for the whole manufacturing in four beginning months of 2016 was 72.9%.

The number of laborers working in industrial enterprises as of 01 May 2016 rose 6.1% compared to the same period last year, of which the State sector increased by 0.2%; the non-State sector by 4.5%, and the FDI sector by 8.7%. As of above time, the number of laborers working in the mining and quarrying industry fell by 2% from the similar period last year; the manufacturing grew by 6.9%; the electricity power generation and distribution went up by 0.6%; the water supply and sewage treatment climbed by 2.2%.

+ Industrial production index
+ Main industrial products
+ Consumption and stock indexes of the manufacturing
+ Labor employed index (LEI) for industrial enterprises

3. Operation of enterprises[3]

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, the country had 44740 enterprises registered for new establishment with a total registered capital of 349.5 trillion dongs, an increase of 24.1% in the number of businesses and an increase of 59.3% in the registered capital against 2015[4]. The average registered capital per enterprise reached 7.8 billion dongs, up 28.4%. If including 655.9 trillion dongs

of additionally registered capital of enterprises changed to raise the capital, the total additional capital to the economy in five beginning months of 2016 was 1005.4 trillion dongs. The expected number of laborers generated jobs in newly established enterprises in five beginning months of 2016 was 531.9 thousand persons, up 2.6% against the same period last year.

The number of re-operated enterprises five beginning months of year was 12999 enterprises, up 75.6% from the identical period last year. The number of enterprises which finished the procedure for dissolving, terminating business activities in five beginning months of year was 4643 ones, increased by 19.5% from the same period last year, of which most of them are small-scale businesses with a registered capital of less than 10 billion dongs (accounting for 93.5%). By types of enterprise, of the total number of enterprises which finished the procedure for dissolving, terminating operations, there were 1876 single member limited liability companies (accounting for 40.4%); 1390 two-member limited liability companies (accounting for 29.9%); 770 private businesses (accounting for 16.6%) and 606 joint-stock companies (representing 13.1%) and 01 partnership.

The number of enterprises having difficulty forced to temporarily cease operations in five beginning months of this year was 28582 ones, an increase of 25.9% over the identical period last year, of which 10794 enterprises registered for time-limited temporary cessation of operations and 17788 enterprises suspended businesses waiting for closing the enterprise code or without registration. Of the total enterprises registered for time-limited temporary cessation of operations, there were 4026 single member limited liability companies (accounting for 37.3%); 3778 two-member limited liability companies (accounting for 35.0%); 1861 joint-stock companies (taking 17.2%) and 1129 private businesses (representing 10.5%). For enterprises suspended operation waiting for closing the enterprise code or without registration, there were 7175 single member limited liability companies (accounting for 40.3%); 5592 two-member limited liability companies (accounting for 31.5%); 3068 joint-stock companies (taking 17.2%) and 1953 private businesses (representing 11%).

4. Investment

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, estimated realized investment capital from the State Budget reached 83.3 trillion dongs, equaled 33.8% of the yearly plan and increased by 11.5% from 2015’s same period. Of which the capital under central management gained 18.2 trillion dongs, equaled 32.5% of the annual plan and went up by 15.4% from the same period last year; the capital under local management achieved 65.1 trillion dongs, equaled 34.3% of the yearly plan and grew by 10.5% over the similar period in 2015. Of which the State budget capital at the provincial level gained 46542 billion dongs, equaling 33.4% and up 13.3%; at the district level achieved 15321 billion dongs, equaling 35.5% and up 5.8%; at the commune level attained 3246 billion dongs, equaling 41.8% and down 3.9% respectively.

From the beginning of the year to 20 May 2016, FDI attracted 907 newly licensed projects with the total registered capital of US$ 7566.9 million, up 53.2% in the number of projects and up 155.9% in the capital against the similar period in 2015. At the same time, there were 425 times of license-granted projects from the previous years which registered to raise capital with additional capital of US$ 2592.1 million. Thus, the total registered capital of both newly and additionally financed projects reached US$ 10159 million, grew by 136.4% against the last year’s same period. Realized FDI capital in five beginning months of the year was estimated to gain US$ 5.8 billion, rose 17.2% from 2015’s similar period.

In five beginning months of of this year, the manufacturing industry attracted highest FDI with the registered capital of US$ 6617.6 million, accounting for 65.1% of the total registered capital; the information and communications gained US$ 1300.4 million, accounted for 12.8%; the real estate business attained US$ 542.8 million, took 5.4%; remaining industries achieved US$ 1698.2 million, accounted for 16.7%.

The country had 45 provinces and cities directly under the central management which received newly licensed FDI projects from 54 nations and territories in five beginning months of the year.

+ Realized investments under the State budget
+ Licensed FDI projects from 01 January to 20 May 2016

5. Government revenues and expenditures

Total estimated government revenues from the beginning of the year to 15 May 2016 achieved an estimate of 346.2 trillion dongs, equaled 34.1% of the annual estimate, of which domestic revenues reached 284.2 trillion dongs, equaled 36.2%; collecting from crude oil achieved 13.9 trillion dongs, equaled 25.5%; from export-import balance: 47.8 trillion dongs, equaled 27.8%. Of home revenues, 61.9 trillion dongs were from non-State industrial, commercial and non-state service taxes, equaling 43.2% of the yearly estimate; 60.1 trillion dongs were from FDI enterprises (excluding crude oil), equaling 37.8%; 28.1 trillion dongs were from individual income tax, equaling 44.1%; 27.5 trillion dongs were from land use fee, equaling 55%; 14.5 trillion dongs were from tax on environment protection, equaling 37.8%; collecting from the State enterprises reached 65.8 trillion dongs, only equaling 25.7% of the yearly estate.

Total government expenditures from the beginning of the year to 15 May 2016 reached an estimate of 412.6 trillion dongs, equaling 32.4% of the yearly estimate. Of which, spending for development investment achieved over 64.3 trillion dongs, equaling 25.2% (spending on capital construction alone reached 63.6 trillion dongs, equaled 25.2%); spending for economic and social development, national defense and security, state management gained 293.4 trillion dongs, equaling 35.1%; paying debts and aids 55 trillion dongs, equaling 35.4%.

6. Trade, prices, transport and tourism

a. Retail sales of consumer goods and services

Generally, in five beginning months of this year, total estimated retail sales of consumer goods and services reached 1427.1 trillion dongs, up 9.1% compared to the same period last year[5]. If the price factor were excluded, the growth rate would be 7.8%. Estimated

sales of accommodation and catering services attained 158.5 trillion dongs, accounted for 11.1% of the total and up 6.2% from the same period last year. Sales of travelling achieved an estimate of 11.7 trillion dongs, accounted for 0.8% and up 6.7% against the same period last year.

+ Total retail sales of consumer goods and services

b. Exports, imports

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, export turnovers was estimated to reach US$ 67.7 billion, increased by 6.6% from the same period in 2015, of which the domestic economic sector achieved US$ 19.4 billion, increased by 3.9%; the FDI sector (including crude oil) gained US$ 48.3 billion, grew by 7.7%.

About the export market in five beginning months of the year, the United States was still the biggest export market of Viet Nam with an export turnover of US$ 14.6 billion, a rise of 14.9% compared to 2015’s same period. Followings were EU with US$ 13.3 billion, a rise of 11%; China with estimated turnovers of US$ 7.6 billion, up 18.9%; South Korea with US$ 4.3 billion, a rise of 39.5%. Only exporting to the ASEAN market reached US$ 6.8 billion, a decrease of 13.5%; and to Japan gained US$ 5.4 billion, 2.2% decline.

Generally, import turnovers in five beginning months of the year reached an estimate of US$ 66.3 billion, down 0.9% from the similar period last year, of which the domestic economic sector gained US$ 27.2 billion, 0.7% decrease; the FDI sector achieved US$ 39.1 billion, a decline of 1.9%.

About the import market in the first five months of the year, China was still the largest import market of Viet Nam with the import turnover of US$ 19.2 billion, down 2.9% from the same period last year[6]; the next was ASEAN with US$ 9.4 billion, down 4.2%; Japan with US$

5.7 billion, down 6.4%; EU with US$ 3.8 billion, down 3.7%; the United States with US$ 3.2 billion, up 4.4%; South Korea with US$ 12.1 billion, up 6.4%.

About trade balance of goods, it was trade surplus of US$ 277 million[7] in April and it was estimated trade deficit of US$ 400 million in

May. Generally, in five beginning months of the year, trade surplus was US$ 1.36 billion, of which the domestic economic sector had a trade deficit of US$ 7.74 billion; the FDI sector (including crude oil) had a trade surplus of US$ 9.10 billion.

+ Exports
+ Imports

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

CPI in May 2016 grew by 0.54% from the previous month, of which groups of goods and services had the CPI growth higher than the general growth including: the transport with a rise of 2.39% mainly due to adjusting to raise the domestic petrol price on 20 April 2016 and 05 May 2016 (making prices of the group of fuels go up by 5.15%, leading to the general CPI rise about 0.21%); housing and constructional materials with a rise of 0.88% due to the adjustment of raising gas price in the month and the increase in prices of constructional materials (price of iron, steel rose 1%-5%; price of cement rose 1%-3%). Remaining groups of goods and services had the growth lower than the general growth including: food and catering service grew by 0.36% (grain food rose 0.68%; foodstuff rose 0.38%[8]; outdoor eating and drinking rose 0.16%); culture, entertainment and tourism with an increase of 0.34%; drinks and tobacco

with a rise of 0.11%; family appliances and equipments with a rise of 0.09%; medicaments and health service with 0.05% growth; postal and communicational services with 0.03% increase; garment, hats, footgear with a growth of 0.02%; education with a rise of 0.02%.

CPI in May 2016 raised by 1.88% over December 2015 and by 2.28% from the same period last year. Average CPI in five beginning months of the year went up by 1.59% compared to 2015’s identical period.

Core inflation in May 2016 increased by 0.25% compared to the previous month and by 1.87% over the same period last year. Core inflation in five beginning months of 2016 rose 1.78% against the similar period in 2015.

Gold price index in May 2016 grew by 1.45% from the previous month, by 9.69% over December 2015 and by 3.97% against the same period last year. US dollar price index in May 2016 climbed by 0.1% from the previous month; went down by 0.89% from December 2015 and rose 3.07% compared to 2015’s similar period.

+ Consumer price indexes, gold, US dollar price indexes and core inflation in May 2016

d. Carriage of passengers and cargos

Passenger carriage in five beginning months of the year was estimated to reach 1502.2 million passengers, raised by 9.1% and 69.8 billion passengers-kilometers, by 8.3% from the same period in 2015. Of which passengers carried by road achieved an estimate of 1410.2 million passengers, a rise of 9.2% and 47.1 billion passengers-kilometers, a rise of 7.4% over the similar period last year; by airway: 17 million passengers, an increase of 30.9% and 19.9 billion passengers-kilometers, an increase of 13.3%; by railway: 4.2 million passengers, a drop of 10.4% and 1.5 billion passengers-kilometers, a decline of 15.8%; by seaway: 2.5 million passengers, 3.2% increase and 126.9 million passengers-kilometers, 2.2% growth.

Cargo carriage in the first five months of the year reached an estimate of 512.4 million tons, up 7.6% and 98.7 billion tons-kilometers, up 3% from the last year’ same period. Of which the domestic transport gained 498.8 million tons, increased by 7.8% and 44.6 billion tons-kilometers, by 5.2%; overseas transport reached 13.6 million tons, grew by 1.5% and 54.1 billion tons-kilometers, by 1.3%. Cargo transport by road obtained 397.3 million tons, up 8.9% and 23.9 billion tons-kilometers, up 11.2%; by waterway: 88.4 million tons, up 5% and 18.3 billion tons-kilometers, up 4.7%; by seaway: 24.5 million tons, up 1.3% and 55 billion tons-kilometers, up 0.2%; by railway: 2.1 million tons, a decline of 23.3% and 1.2 billion tons-kilometers, down 27.7%.

+ Carriage of passengers and cargos

e. International visitors to Vietnam

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, international visitors to Vietnam was estimated to reach 4005.9 thousand arrivals, up 20% from the same period last year, of which visitors coming by airway gained 3292 thousand arrivals, up 22.2%; by road: 647.9 thousand arrivals, up 16.6%; by seaway: 66 thousand arrivals, down 25.9%.

In five beginning months of the year, visitors to Vietnam from Asia achieved 2810.9 thousand arrivals, increased by 24% against the similar period last year. Visitors from Europe gained an estimate of 697.2 thousand arrivals, went up by 13.9% from the last year’s identical period. Visitors from America obtained 328.8 thousand arrivals, rose 11.8% over the same period last year. Visitors from Australia achieved 158 thousand arrivals, up 3.6% over the same period in 2015.
   
+ International visitors to Viet Nam

7. Social issues

a. Farmers’ food shortage

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, the country had 176 thousand times of households suffering from food shortage, up 5.8% compared to the similar period last year, corresponding to 723.1 thousand persons suffering from food shortage, up 6.3%. Food shortage focused at provinces in the Northern Midlands and Mountainous, the North Central Coast, and the Central Highlands. To overcome this problem, from the beginning of the year, all administrative levels, sectors and organizations from central to local level provided difficult families with 12.2 thousand tons of grain food and about 590 million dongs, only in May 3700 tons of grain food were provided to difficult households.

b. Epidemic diseases and food poisoning

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, the country had over 11.7 thousand cases of hand, foot, mouth disease; 32.7 thousand cases of hemorrhagic fever (09 died); 100 cases of typhoid; 143 cases of virus encephalitis (01 died); 19 cases of meningococcal disease (01 died) and 02 cases of infecting Zika virus in Khanh Hoa province and Ho Chi Minh City.

In the month, 93 HIV-infected cases were found, total number of alive HIV-infected persons over the country as of 17 May 2016 was 227.9 thousand persons, of which 85.4 thousand cases turned to AIDS. The number of persons died of AIDS over the country as of above time was 87.1 thousand persons.

From 17 December 2015 to 17 May 2016, the country had 35 serious cases of food poisoning, infecting 1855 persons, of which 02 cases died.

c. Traffic accidents

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, the country had 8374 cases of traffic accidents, including 4163 cases of traffic accidents and 4211 cases of traffic crashing, killing 3588 persons, injuring 2403 persons and injuring slightly 4936 others. In comparison with the same period last year, cases of the traffic accidents in the first five months of the year decreased by 10.1% (cases of traffic accidents less serious and more reduced by 3%; cases of traffic collision by 16.2%); the death fell by 3.9%; the injured persons declined by 4.5%; and slightly injured persons decreased by 18.3%. On average, each day in five beginning months of 2016, the country had 55 cases of traffic accident, including 27 cases of traffic accidents and 28 cases of traffic crashing, killing 24 persons and injuring 16 persons and injuring somewhat 33 persons.

d. Damage by natural calamity

Generally, in five beginning months of the year, natural calamity made 14 persons died and 71 persons injured; over 650 thousand houses collapsed, swept away and 32.5 thousand houses blown off, unroofed; 15.9 thousand hectares of rice, 12 thousand hectares of vegetables and 1500 hectares of aquaculture damaged; 17 thousand heads of cattle, 11.5 thousand fowls and nearly 730 tons of fishery died. The total value of damage caused by the disaster in five beginning months of 2016 was estimated nearly 1.3 trillion dongs.

As of 20 May 2016, 288.3 thousand households were short of water; 249.9 thousand hectares of rice, 19 thousand hectares of vegetables, 30.5 thousand hectares of fruit trees, 149.7 thousand hectares of industrial trees and 6.9 thousand hectares of aquaculture damaged. Total value of damage was estimated to be about 15.2 trillion dongs.

e. Fire and explosion, environment protection

Generally, in five beginning months of 2016, authorities found 5448 cases of violating regulations of environment protection over the country, of which 2012 cases were treated with total fine of over 379.2 billion dongs.

Generally, in the first five months of 2016, the country had 1552 cases of fire and explosion, killing 34 persons and injuring 153 others, the value of damage was estimated about 723 billion dongs.

GENERAL STATISTICS OFFICE

[1] Some provinces had the high wood production including: Quang Ngai with 314 thousand m3, up 12.1% from the similar period last year; Quang Nam with 305 thousand m3, up 8.2%; Tuyen Quang with 267 thousand m3, up 24%; Binh Dinh with 261 thousand m3, up 13.8%.

[2] IPI in five beginning months of 2015 rose 9.4% over the previous year’s same period, of which the mining and quarrying increased by 7.4%; the manufacturing by 9.9%; the electricity power generation and distribution by 11.5%; the water supply and sewage treatment by 6.4%.

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

[4] The number of newly registered enterprises in five beginning months of 2015 rose 15.5%; the registered capital rose 26.3% from the same period in 2014.

[5] Total estimated retail sales of consumer goods and services in five beginning months of previous years as follows: it reached 1190.3 trillion dongs in 2014, up 13% over the previous year’s same period; 1308.6 trillion dongs in 2015, up 9.9%.

[6] Trade deficit with China in five beginning months of the year was 11.6 billion, down 13.5% from 2015’s same period.

[7] Estimated trade surplus in April was US$ 100 million.

[8] Although the price of rice dropped in mid-May by the information that Thailand discharged 11.4 million tons of rice in stock in May and June 2016, the CPI of grain food still increased by 0.68% due to the demand for rice of signed export contracts and the effect of drought in the central region, the Central Highlands and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta.