SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION IN EIGHT MONTHS OF 2016

As of mid-August, the whole country cultivated 2112.2 thousand hectares of summer-autumn rice, up 2.1 thousand hectares against the similar period last year.

As of mid-August, provinces in the South harvested 951.3 thousand hectares of summer-autumn rice, equaling 85.6% from the similar period last year. According to the preliminary report of localities, summer-autumn rice productivity this year was estimated to reach 5400 kilograms per hectare, approximately the productivity of the previous summer-autumn crop, estimated yield achieved 11.4 million tons.

As of August 15, localities over the country cultivated 948.8 thousand hectares of maize, equaling 94.5% from the same period last year; 100.3 thousand hectares of sweet potato, equaling 84.2%; 75.1 thousand hectares of soya-bean, equaling 84%; 177.4 hectares of peanut, equaling 97.4%; 933.3 thousand hectares of vegetables, equaling 102.8%.

The country’s flock of buffaloes in the month was estimated to reduce by 1% from the same period last year; flock of oxen increased by 2%, of which dairy herd grew by 10-15%; flock of pigs went up by 3.5-4%; flock of poultry raised by 4.5-5%.
   
+ Agricultural production as of August 15, 2016

b. Forestry

Generally, in eight months, the concentrated planted forest area was estimated to reach 130.9 thousand hectares, a decrease of 2.2% compared to the same period last year; the number of separate planted trees gained 131.2 million trees, a decrease of 0.7%; wood production gained 5562 thousand m3, a rise of 10.7%; firewood production gained 19.2 million ster, an increase of 0.5%.

Generally, in eight months, damaged forest area was 2990 hectares, 2.5 times as high as it was in the same period last year, of which the burnt forest area was 2138 hectares, 2.9 times as high as the burnt area in the same period last year; destroyed area was 852 hectares, 1.8 times as high as it was in the similar period last year.

c. Fishery

Generally, in eight months, fishing production was estimated to reach 4334.6 thousand tons, increased by 2% over the same period last year, of which production of aquaculture gained 2302.4 thousand tons, up 1.1%; production of fishing caught achieved 2032.2 thousand tons, up 3.1% (The yield of tuna attained 12.8 thousand tons, 1.5% decrease).

2. Industry

Generally, in eight months, Industrial Production Index (IPI) increased by 6.9% from the same period last year, lower than the growth of 9.8% in 2015’s similar period[1], mainly because the mining and quarrying industry continued to go down[2], the manufacturing industry had lower growth rate than the growth in the same period last year. Of which the manufacturing in eight months of this year climbed by 9.7% over the similar period last year, contributed 6.8 percentage points to the overall growth rate; the electricity power generation and distribution rose 11.8%, contributed 0.8 percentage points; the water supply and sewage treatment went up by 6.8%, contributed 0.1 percentage points; only the mining and quarrying fell by 3.8%, reduced 0.8 percentage points of the general growth rate.

Generally, in seven months, consumption index for the whole manufacturing increased by 8.1% over the identical period in 2015 (13.3% increase in 2015’s same period). Stock index for the entire manufacturing as of August 01, 2016 went up by 8.9% from the same period last year (it grew by 10.1% in 2015’s same period). Average stock rate of the whole manufacturing in seven months of 2016 was 69.1%.

The number of laborers working in industrial enterprises as of August 01, 2016 rose 5% compared to the same period last year, of which the State sector decreased by 0.7%; the non-State sector grew by 1.9%, and the FDI sector went up by 8.1%.

+ 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 eight months of this year, the country had 73404 enterprises registered for new establishment with a total registered capital of 567.9 trillion dongs, an increase of 19.7% in the number of businesses and an increase of 50.9% in the registered capital against the same period in 2015. The average registered capital per enterprise reached 7.7 billion dongs, up 26%[4]. Newly established enterprises’ total registered number of employees in eight months was 857.2 thousand persons, equaling 98.2% from the same period in 2015.

Besides, in eight months of this year, there were 1024.6 trillion dongs of additionally registered capital of enterprises changed to raise the capital, bringing the total registered and additional capital to the economy in eight months to 1592.5 trillion dongs.

The number of re-operated enterprises in eight months of this year was 18711 enterprises, up 65.1% from the identical period last year (it rose 3.7% in eight months of 2015 agaisnt the similar period in 2014). The number of enterprises which finished the procedure for dissolving, terminating business activities in eight months was 7479 ones, increased by 18.9% from the same period last year (it  decreased by 1.2% in 2015’s same period from 2014), of which there were 6974 businesses with a registered capital of less than 10 billion dongs, accounting for 93.2% and up 18.7%. By types of enterprise, of the total number of enterprises which finished the procedure for dissolving, terminating operations, there were 2999 single member limited liability companies (accounting for 40.1%); 2232 two-member limited liability companies (accounting for 29.8%); 1255 private businesses (accounting for 16.8%) and 991 joint-stock companies (representing 13.3%) and 02 partnerships.

The number of enterprises which temporarily ceased operations in eight months of this year was 40419 ones, an increase of 3.5% over the identical period last year, of which 14924 enterprises registered for time-limited temporary cessation of operations, up 32.7% and 25495 enterprises suspended businesses without registration or waiting for dissolving, down 8.3%.

Of the total number of enterprises registered for time-limited temporary cessation of operations, there were 5611 single member limited liability companies (accounting for 37.6%); 5102 two-member limited liability companies (accounting for 34.2%); 2602 joint-stock companies (taking 17.4%) and 1608 private businesses (representing 10.8%), and 01 partnership. For enterprises suspended operations without registration or waiting for dissolving, there were 10538 single member limited liability companies (accounting for 41.3%); 8012 two-member limited liability companies (accounting for 31.4%); 4599 joint-stock companies (taking 18.0%) and 2346 private businesses (representing 9.2%). By kinds of economic activity, there were 40.1% of enterprises registered for time-limited temporary cessation of operations and 44.9% of enterprises suspended operations without registration or waiting for dissolving acting in the wholesale, retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; corresponding rates for the construction were 14.6% and 12.6%; for the manufacturing were 13.2% and 11.2%; for remaining industries were 32.1% and 31.3%.

4. Investment

Generally, in eight months, estimated realized investment capital from the State Budget reached 155.3 trillion dongs, equaled 60.1% of the yearly plan and increased by 12.9% from 2015’s same period. Of which the capital under central management gained 36.5 trillion dongs, equaled 58.2% of the annual plan and went up by 17.8% from the same period last year; the capital under local management achieved 118.8 trillion dongs, equaled 60.7% of the yearly plan and grew by 11.4% over the similar period in 2015.

From the beginning of the year to August 20, 2016, FDI attracted 1619 newly licensed projects with the total registered capital of US$ 9795.6 million, up 32.8% in the number of projects and up 24.3% in the registered capital against the similar period in 2015. Besides, there were 770 times of license-granted projects from previous years which registered to adjust capital with the additional capital of US$ 4571.1 million. Thus, the total registered capital of both newly and additionally financed projects in eight months of this year reached US$ 14366.7 million, grew by 7.7% against the last year’s same period. Realized FDI capital in eight months of this year was estimated to gain US$ 9.8 billion, rose 8.9% from 2015’s similar period.

The whole country had 47 provinces and cities directly under the central management which received newly licensed FDI projects from 56 nations and territories in eight months of this year.

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

5. Government revenues and expenditures

Total estimated government revenues from the beginning of the year to August 15, 2016 achieved an estimate of 603.7 trillion dongs, equaled 59.5% of the annual estimate, of which domestic revenues reached 486.2 trillion dongs, equaled 61.9%; collecting from crude oil achieved 24.6 trillion dongs, equaled 45.2%; from export-import balance: 90.2 trillion dongs, equaled 52.4%. Of home revenues, 48.3 trillion dongs were from land use fee, equaling 96.7% of the annual estimate; 97.4 trillion dongs were from non-State industrial, commercial and non-state service taxes, equaling 67.9%; 42.4 trillion dongs were from individual income tax, equaling 66.7%; 25 trillion dongs were from tax on environment protection, equaling 65.1%; 97.1 trillion dongs were from FDI enterprises (excluding crude oil), equaling 61.1%. The collection from the State enterprises reached 126.1 trillion dongs, only equaling 49.2% of the yearly estate.

Total government expenditures from the beginning of the year to August 15, 2016 reached an estimate of 715.2 trillion dongs, equaling 56.2% of the yearly estimate. Of which, spending for development investment achieved over 107.2 trillion dongs, equaling 42.1%; spending for economic and social development, national defense, public security, public administration gained 506.7 trillion dongs, equaling 61.5%; repayment of debts and provision of aids gained 96.2 trillion dongs, equaling 62%.

6. Trade, prices, transport and tourism

a. Retail sales of consumer goods and services

Generally, in eight months of this year, total estimated retail sales of consumer goods and services reached 2307.7 trillion dongs, up 9.3% compared with the same period last year (lower than the growth rate of 10.5% in 2015’s similar period), if the price factor were excluded, the growth rate would be 7.3% (9.2% in 2015’s identical period). By kinds of economic activity, retail sales of goods in eight months was estimated to gain 1758.6 trillion dongs, accounted for 76.2% of the total and increased by 9.7% against the same period last year. Estimated sales of accommodation and catering services attained 263.7 trillion dongs, accounted for 11.4% of the total and up 6.9% from the same period last year. Sales of travelling in eight months of this year achieved an estimate of 21.2 trillion dongs, accounted for 0.9% of the total and up 7% against the same period last year. Sales of other services in eight months were estimated to achieve 264.2 trillion dongs, accounted for 11.5% of the total and went up by 9% from the same period in 2015.

+ Total retail sales of consumer goods and services

b. Exports and imports of goods

Generally, in eight months of this year, export turnovers was estimated to reach US$ 112.19 billion, increased by 5.5% from the same period last year, of which the domestic economic sector achieved US$ 32.62 billion, increased by 4.0%; the FDI sector (including crude oil) gained US$ 79.57 billion, grew by 6.1%. About the export market in eight months, the United States was still the biggest export market of Vietnam with an export turnover of US$ 24.6 billion, a rise of 13% compared to 2015’s same period. Followings were EU with US$ 21.9 billion, a rise of 8.8%; China with US$ 12.6 billion, up 15%; South Korea with US$ 7 billion, a rise of 30.7%. Only exporting to the ASEAN market reached US$ 11.1 billion, a decrease of 10% because the export of crude oil to this market dropped sharply.

Generally, import turnovers in eight months reached an estimate of US$ 109.74 billion, down 0.3% from the similar period last year, of which the domestic economic sector gained US$ 45.35 billion, 0.5% growth; the FDI sector achieved US$ 64.39 billion, a decline of 0.8%.  About the import market in eight months of this year, import from some major markets went down compared with the same period last year, of which the import from China reached US$ 31.6 billion, down 2.8% against the corresponding period in 2015[5]; from

ASEAN: US$ 15.2 billion, down 3.4%; from Japan:

US$ 9.5 billion, down 2.5%; from EU: US$ 6.9 billion, down 0.2%; from the United States: US$ 5.2 billion, down 3.3%. Only importing from South Korea achieved US$ 20.3 billion, up 9.3% as a result of sharp growth in import of petrol and electronic goods, computers and components.

Generally, in eight months, trade surplus was US$ 2.45 billion (trade deficit of US$ 3.6 billion in 2015’s same period), of which the domestic economic sector had a trade deficit of US$ 12.73 billion; the FDI sector (including crude oil) had a trade surplus of US$ 15.18 billion.

+ Exports
+ Imports

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

CPI in August 2016 grew by 0.1% from the previous month and by 2.58% over December 2015, and by 2.57% from the same period last year. Average CPI in eight months of this year increased by 1.91% against 2015’s similar period.

Core inflation in August 2016 increased by 0.09% compared to the previous month and by 1.83% over the same period last year. Average core inflation in eight months of 2016 rose 1.81% against the similar period in 2015.

Domestic gold price increased according to the world’s gold price fluctuations. Gold price index in August 2016 grew by 1.72% from the previous month, by 17.54% over December 2015 and by 17.50% against the same period last year. US dollar price index in August 2016 fell by 0.05% from the previous month, went down by 1.07% from December 2015 and climbed by 1.84% compared to 2015’s similar period.

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

d. Carriage of passengers and cargos

Generally, passenger carriage in eight months reached 2408 million passengers, raised by 9.3% over the corresponding period last year and 113.5 billion passengers-kilometers, by 9.6%. Of which passengers carried by road achieved 2260.6 million passengers, a rise of 9.5% and 75.9 billion passengers-kilometers, a rise of 7.9%; by seaway: 4 million passengers, 3.9% increase and 202.5 million passengers-kilometers, 2.5% growth; by airway: 26.4 million passengers, an increase of 27.3% and 32.8 billion passengers-kilometers, an increase of 17.4% as domestic airlines have promoted to exploit the domestic market; by railway: 7.2 million passengers, a drop of 11.4% and 2.6 billion passengers-kilometers, a decline of 17.2%.

Cargo carriage in eight months reached 829.2 million tons, up 9% from the same period last year and 158.9 billion tons-kilometers, up 3.6%. Of which the domestic transport gained 807.4 million tons, increased by 9.2% and 72.5 billion tons-kilometers, by 6.4%; overseas transport reached 21.8 million tons, grew by 2.5% and 86.4 billion tons-kilometers, by 1.4%. Cargo transport by road obtained 644.2 million tons, up 10.3% and 39 billion tons-kilometers, up 12.1% from the same period last year; by waterway: 141.8 million tons, up 5.9% and 29.4 billion tons-kilometers, up 5.4%; by seaway: 39.5 million tons, up 3% and 88 billion tons-kilometers, up 0.6%; by railway: 3.4 million tons, a decline of 24.6% and 2.1 billion tons-kilometers, down 26.8%.

+ Carriage of passengers and cargos

e. International visitors to Vietnam

Generally, in eight months, international visitors to Vietnam was estimated to reach 6452.4 thousand arrivals, up 25.4% from the same period last year, of which visitors coming by airway gained 5438.9 thousand arrivals, up 28.5%; by road: 914.6 thousand arrivals, up 14.5%; by seaway: 98.9 thousand arrivals, down 15.4%.

In eight months of this year, visitors to Vietnam from Asia achieved 4634.8 thousand arrivals, increased by 30.8% against the similar period last year. Visitors from Europe gained an estimate of 1049.1 thousand arrivals, went up by 15.5% from the last year’s identical period. Visitors from America obtained 503.7 thousand arrivals, rose 13% over the same period last year, of which visitors from the United States gained 386.8 thousand arrivals, a rise of 14.8%. Visitors from Australia reached 247 thousand arrivals, 6.7% increase over the similar period in 2015.

+ International visitors to Vietnam

7. Social issues

a. Farmers’ food shortage

Generally, in eight months of 2016, the country had 243.5 thousand times of households suffering from food shortage, corresponding to 1008.7 thousand persons suffering from food shortage, up 14% over the same period last year. 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 16 thousand tons of grain food and 600 million dongs, nearly 600 tons of grain food were provided only in August.

b. Epidemic diseases and food poisoning

Generally, in eight months, the country had over 24.1 thousand cases of hand, foot, mouth disease; 208 cases of typhoid; 570 cases of virus encephalitis (11 died); 33 cases of meningococcal disease (05 died); 168 cases of whooping-cough; 03 cases caught and died of diphtheria. In August, there were extra 11.9 thousand cases of hemorrhagic fever (04 died), bringing the total number of cases from the beginning of the year to now to 56.8 thousand persons (18 died).

Total number of alive HIV-infected persons over the country as of August 17, 2016 was 228.6 thousand persons, of which 86.5 thousand cases turned to AIDS. The number of persons died of HIV/AIDS over the country as of above time was 88.2 thousand persons.

From the beginning of the year to now, the country had 92 serious cases of food poisoning, infecting 2904 persons, of which 08 cases died.

c. Traffic accidents

Generally, in eight months of this year, the country had 13612 cases of traffic accidents, including 6638 cases of traffic accidents and 6974 cases of traffic crashing, killing 5728 persons, injuring 3751 persons and injuring slightly 8030 others. In comparison with the same period last year, cases of the traffic accidents in eight months of 2016 decreased by 6.9% (cases of traffic accidents less serious and more reduced by 1%; cases of traffic collision by 11.9%); the death fell by 1.6%; the injured persons declined by 1.9%; and slightly injured persons decreased by 14.7%. On average, each day in eight months of 2016, the country had 56 cases of traffic accident, including 27 cases of traffic accidents and 29 cases of traffic crashing, killing 23 persons and injuring 15 persons and injuring somewhat 33 persons.

d. Damage by natural calamity [6]

Generally, in eight months of this year, natural calamity made 90 persons died, lost and 223 persons injured; over 1600 houses collapsed, swept away and 81.6 thousand houses blown off, unroofed; 200.3 thousand hectares of rice, 49.7 thousand hectares of vegetables and crops, and 18.8 thousand hectares of aquaculture damaged; 36 thousand heads of cattle, 198 thousand fowls and over 854 tons of fishery died. The total value of damage caused by the disaster in eight months of 2016 was estimated nearly 8.7 trillion dongs.

e. Fire and explosion, environment protection

Generally, in eight months of this year, authorities found 9695 cases of violating regulations of environment protection over the country, of which 4525 cases were treated with total fine of over 418 billion dongs.

Generally, in eight months of 2016, the country had 2268 cases of fire and explosion, killing 79 persons and injuring 209 others, the value of damage was estimated about 1026 billion dongs.

GENERAL STATISTICS OFFICE

[1] IPI in August 2015 increased by 9.8% over 2014’s same period, of which the mining and quarrying rose 8.2%; the manufacturing grew by 10.2%; the electricity power generation and distribution went up by 11.1%; the water supply and sewage treatment climbed by 7.1%.

[2] In comparison with the identical period in 2015, IPI of the mining and quarrying in four months reduced by 0.5%; in five months by 1.4%; in six months by 2.6%; in seven months by 3.6%; in eight months by 3.8% respectively.

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

[4] Compared to the same period in the previous year, the number of newly established enterprises in eight months of 2015 rose 29.2%; average registered capital per enterprise increased by 1.3%.

[5] Trade deficit with China in eight months of 2016 was estimated to be US$ 19 billion, down 11.9% from the same period in 2015.

[6] Not to mention the damage caused by serious drought and salt water intrusion in the South Central Coast, the Central Highlands and the Mekong Delta.