SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION IN FOUR BEGINNING MONTHS OF 2016

As of mid-April, the Southern provinces harvested 1585.8 thousand hectares of winter-sping rice, accounting for over 80% of sown area and equaling 95.9% from the same period last year. According to preliminary report, the rice productivity in the Mekong Delta this year reached 6720 kilograms per hectare (kg/ha), down 400 kg/ha compared to the previous winter-spring crop; the rice yield gained 10.4 million tons, down 700 thousand tons. The winter-spring rice crop in the Mekong Delta this year was affected by drought and saltwater intrusion.

In the Mekong Delta, farmers took advantage of the harvest winter-spring rice area to seed 628.4 thousand hectares of early summer-autumn rice, equaling 97% from the similar period last year.

As of mid-April, localities over the country cultivated 439.8 thousand hectares of maize, equaling 93.9% from the same period last year; 75.3 thousand hectares of sweet potato, equaling 96.7%; 139.4 thousand hectares of peanut, equaling 102.1%; 36.8 thousand hectares of soya, equaling 60.7%; 538.7 thousand hectares of vegetables, equaling 102.3%.

The country’s flock of buffaloes in the month was estimated to reduce by 1.5%-2% against the same period last year; flock of oxen raised by 0.5%-1%; flock of pigs increased by 2%-2.5%; flock of poultry climbed by 3%-3.5%.
    
+ Agricultural production as of 15 April 2016

b. Forestry

Generally, in four beginning months of the year, the concentrated planted forest area was estimated to reach 34.3 thousand hectares, down 0.6% against the similar period in 2015; the number of separate planted trees achieved 77.3 million trees, up 0.1%; wood production gained 2106 thousand m3, a rise of 6.5%; firewood production gained 10.6 million ster, an increase of 1.1%.

Generally, in four beginning months of 2016, damaged forest area was 1441 hectares, up 83.5% from the same period last year, of which burnt forest area was 1150 hectares, 2.2 times what it was in the same period last year; destroyed forest area was 291 hectares, up 16%.

c. Fishery

Generally, in four beginning months of the year, fishing production was estimated to reach 1804.7 thousand tons, increased by 2.5% over the same period last year, of which production of aquaculture gained 785.8 thousand tons, up 1.1%; production of fishing caught achieved 1054.9 thousand tons, up 3.5% (Sea catching reached 1006.6 thousand tons, up 3.7%).

2. Industry

Generally, in four beginning months of the year, Industrial Production Index (IPI) was increased by 7.3% from the same period last year, lower than the growth of 9.6% in 2015’s similar period[2]. Of which the manufacturing climbed by 9.6%, contributed 6.8 percentage points to the overall growth rate; the electricity power generation and distribution rose 12.1%, contributed 0.8 percentage points; the water supply and sewage treatment went up by 9%, contributed 0.1 percentage points; the mining and quarrying fell by 1.7%, reduced 0.4 percentage points of the general growth rate.

Consumption index for the whole manufacturing in March 2016 increased by 36.5% against the previous month and rose 12.7% from the same period last year. Generally, in three beginning months of the year, consumption index for the manufacturing grew by 10.2% over the identical period in 2015.

Stock index for the entire manufacturing as of 01 April 2016 went up by 8.9% from the same period in 2015 (lower than the growth of 11.3% in the same period last year).

Average stock rate for the whole manufacturing in three beginning months of 2016 was 74.4%.

The number of laborers working in industrial enterprises as of 01 April 2016 rose 6% compared to the same period last year, of which the State sector increased by 0.6%; the non-State sector by 4.3%, and the FDI sector by 8.5%.

+ 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 four beginning months of the year, the country had 34721 enterprises registered for new establishment with a total registered capital of 248.2 trillion dongs, an increase of 22.9% in the number of businesses and an increase of 52.8% in the registered capital against 2015[4]. The average registered capital per enterprise reached 7.1 billion dongs, up 24.2%. If including 553.3 billion dongs of additionally registered capital of enterprises changed to raise the capital, the total additional capital to the economy in four beginning months of the year was 801.5 trillion dongs. The expected number of laborers generated jobs in newly established enterprises in four beginning months of 2016 was 427.2 thousand persons, down 0.2% against the same period in 2015.

The number of re-operated enterprises four beginning months of year was 11331 enterprises, up 79.4% from the identical period last year. The number of enterprises which finished the procedure for dissolving, terminating business activities in four beginning months of year was 3759 ones, increased by 15.7% 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 1524 single member limited liability companies (accounting for 40.5%); 1124 two-member limited liability companies (accounting for 29.9%); 611 private businesses (accounting for 16.3%) and 500 joint-stock companies (representing 13.3%).

The number of enterprises having difficulty forced to temporarily cease operations in four beginning months of this year was 25135 ones, an increase of 31.8% over the identical period last year, of which 9450 enterprises registered for time-limited temporary cessation of operations and 15685 enterprises suspended businesses waiting for closing the enterprise code or without registration. Of total enterprises registered for time-limited temporary cessation of operations, there were 3484 single member limited liability companies (accounting for 36.9%); 3316 two-member limited liability companies (accounting for 35.4%); 1638 joint-stock companies (taking 17.3%) and 1012 private businesses (representing 10.7%). For enterprises suspended operation waiting for closing the enterprise code or without registration, there were 6342 single member limited liability companies (accounting for 40.4%); 4998 two-member limited liability companies (accounting for 31.9%); 2620 joint-stock companies (taking 16.7%) and 1724 private businesses (representing 11%) and 01 partnership.

4. Investment

Generally, in four beginning months of the year, estimated realized investment capital from the State Budget reached 62.3 trillion dongs, equaled 25.3% of the yearly plan and increased by 11.5% from 2015’s same period. Of which the capital under central management gained 13.4 trillion dongs, equaled 23.9% of the annual plan and went up by 14.9% from the same period last year; the capital under local management achieved 48.9 trillion dongs, equaled 25.7% of the yearly plan and grew by 10.6% over the similar period in 2015.

From the beginning of the year to 20 April 2016, FDI attracted 697 newly licensed projects with the total registered capital of US$ 5082.9 million, up 55.6% in the number of projects and up 89.9% in the capital against the similar period in 2015. At the same time, there were 314 times of license-granted projects from the previous years which registered to raise capital with additional capital of US$ 1804 million. Thus, the total registered capital of both newly and additionally financed projects reached US$ 6886.9 million, grew by 85% against the last year’s same period. Realized FDI capital in four beginning months of the year was estimated to gain US$ 4.7 billion, rose 12% from 2015’s similar period.

In four beginning months of of this year, the manufacturing industry attracted highest FDI with the registered capital of US$ 5246.6 million, accounting for 76.2% of the total registered capital; the scientific and technical specialty reached US$ 334.6 million, accounted for 4.9%; the wholesale, retail, repairing automobile and motorbike gained US$ 242.5 million, accounted for 3.5%; remaining industries achieved US$ 1063.2 million, accounted for 15.4%.

The country had 41 provinces and cities directly under the central management which received newly licensed FDI projects from 45 nations and territories in four beginning months of the year.

+ Realized investments under the State budget
+ Licensed FDI projects from 01 January to 20 April 2016
 
5. Government revenues and expenditures

Total estimated government revenues from the beginning of the year to 15 April 2016 achieved an estimate of 254.4 trillion dongs, equaled 25.1% of the annual estimate, of which all three major fields of revenues were lower than the yearly estimate: domestic revenues reached an estimate of 209.3 trillion dongs, equaled 26.7%; collecting from crude oil achieved 10.9 trillion dongs, equaled 20.1%; from export-import balance: 33.9 trillion dongs, equaled 19.7%. Revenues from crude oil and exports, imports were low mainly due to the impacts of sharply dropping in prices of crude oil and petrochemical exports[5]. Collecting from non-State industrial, commercial and non-state service taxes reached 46.7 trillion dongs, equaling 32.5%; from FDI enterprises (excluding crude oil) gained 44.1 trillion dongs, equaling 27.7%; from land use fee achieved 22.4 trillion dongs, equaling 44.9%; from individual income tax reached 21.6 trillion dongs, equaling 33.9%; from tax on environment protection attained 10.6 trillion dongs, equaling 27.5%.

Total government expenditures from the beginning of the year to 15 April 2016 reached an estimate of 318.2 trillion dongs, equaling 25% of the yearly estimate. Of which, spending for development investment achieved 53.8 trillion dongs, equaling 21.1% (spending on capital construction alone reached 53.5 trillion dongs, equaled 21.2%); spending for economic and social development, national defense and security, state management gained 222.2 trillion dongs, equaling 27%; paying debts and aids reached 42.2 trillion dongs, equaling 27.2%.

6. Trade, prices, transport and tourism

a. Retail sales of consumer goods and services

Generally, in four beginning months of this year, total estimated retail sales of consumer goods and services reached 1138.2 trillion dongs, up 8.8% compared to the same period last year. If the price factor were excluded, the growth rate would be 7.5%, lower than the increase of 8.3% in the same period.

By kinds of economic activity, retail sales of goods in four beginning months of the year gained 870.2 trillion dongs, accounted for 76.4% of the total and rose 9%. Estimated sales of accommodation and catering services attained 127.4 trillion dongs, accounted for 11.2% of the total and up 8% from the same period last year. Sales of travelling achieved an estimate of 9.1 trillion dongs, accounted for 0.8% and up 8.1% against the same period last year (a drop of 3.5% in the same period last year). Other services reached 131.5 trillion dongs, accounted for 11.6% and up 8.6%.
    
+ Total retail sales of consumer goods and services

b. Exports, imports

Generally, in four beginning months of the year, export turnovers was estimated to reach US$ 52.9 billion, increased by 6% from the same period in 2015, of which the domestic economic sector achieved US$ 15.1 billion, increased by 2.9%; the FDI sector (including crude oil) gained US$ 37.8 billion, grew by 7.3%.

Import turnovers in four beginning months of the year reached an estimate of US$ 51.4 billion, down 1.2% from the similar period last year, of which the domestic economic sector gained US$ 20.7 billion, 0.8% decrease; the FDI sector achieved US$ 30.7 billion, a decline of 1.4%.

About trade balance of goods, trade surplus was US$ 624 million in March and estimated US$ 100 million in April. Generally, in four beginning months of the year, trade surplus was US$ 1.46 billion, of which the domestic economic sector had a trade deficit of US$ 5.60 billion; the FDI sector (including crude oil) had a trade surplus of US$ 7.06 billion.
    
+ Exports
+ Imports

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

CPI in April 2016 grew by 0.33% from the previous month, of which groups of goods and services with CPI increased higher than the general growth included the transport with a rise of 1.73% (mainly due to adjusting to raise the domestic petrol price at the time of 21 March 2016 and 05 April 2016, this made prices of the group of fuels up 3.83%, and made the general CPI up about 0.16%); housing and constructional materials with a rise of 0.71% due to the adjustment of raising gas price at the time of 01 April 2016 and the increase of 5%-8% in prices of iron and steel. The group of medicaments and health service increased 0.45%, of which health services rose 0.47%. Remaining groups of goods and services with CPI increased lower than the general growth or decreased included drinks and tobacco with a raise of 0.17%; family appliances and equipments with a rise of 0.10%; garment, hats, footgear with a growth of 0.05%; the group of postal and communicational services and the group of food and catering services with no change; culture, entertainment and tourism with a drop of 0.01%.

CPI in April 2016 raised by 1.33% over December 2015 and by 1.89% from the same period last year. Average CPI in four beginning months of the year went up by 1.41% compared to 2015’s identical period.

Gold price index in April 2016 increased by 0.3% from the previous month, by 8.12% over December 2015 and by 2.2% against the same period in 2015. US dollar price index in April 2016 grew by 0.05% from the previous month; went down by 0.79% from December 2015 and rose 3.55% compared to 2015’s similar period.

Core inflation in April 2016 increased by 0.19% compared to the previous month and by 1.76% over the same period last year. Core inflation in four beginning months of 2016 rose 1.76% against the similar period in 2015.
    
+ Consumer price indexes, gold, US dollar price indexes and core inflation in April 2016
 
d. Carriage of passengers and cargos

Passenger carriage in four beginning months of the year was estimated to reach 1187 million passengers, raised by 8.9% and 55.5 billion passengers-kilometers, by 8% from the same period in 2015. Passengers carried by road achieved 1117.9 million passengers, a rise of 9% and 37.3 billion passengers-kilometers, a rise of 7.2% over the similar period last year; by airway: 12.7 million passengers, an increase of 32.5% and 15.9 billion passengers-kilometers, an increase of 12.8%; by railway: 3.3 million passengers, a drop of 10% and 1.3 billion passengers-kilometers, a decline of 14.5%; by seaway: 1.9 million passengers, 3.9% increase and 89.4 million passengers-kilometers, 3.5% growth.

Cargo carriage in four beginning months of the year reached an estimate of 406.6 million tons, up 7.4% and 79.6 billion tons-kilometers, up 3.1% from the last year’ same period. Of which the domestic transport gained 395.7 million tons, increased by 7.5% and 36.3 billion tons-kilometers, by 4.8%; overseas transport reached 10.9 million tons, grew by 3.6% and 43.3 billion tons-kilometers, by 1.7%. Cargo transport by road obtained 315.6 million tons, up 8.6% and 19.5 billion tons-kilometers, up 10.4%; by waterway: 69.2 million tons, up 5.2% and 14.2 billion tons-kilometers, up 5%; by seaway: 19.9 million tons, up 1.7% and 44.6 billion tons-kilometers, up 0.7%; by railway: 1.7 million tons, a decline of 27% and 1 billion tons-kilometers, down 31.4%.
    
+ Carriage of passengers and cargos
 
e. International visitors to Vietnam

Generally, in four beginning months of the year, international visitors to Vietnam was estimated to reach 3248.6 thousand arrivals, up 17.8% from the same period last year, of which visitors coming by airway gained 2648 thousand arrivals, up 18.5%; by road: 550 thousand arrivals, up 25.2%; by seaway: 50.6 thousand arrivals, down 38.9%.

In four beginning months of the year, visitors to Vietnam from Asia achieved 2236.9 thousand arrivals, increased by 21.9% against the similar period last year. Visitors from Europe gained an estimate of 587.9 thousand arrivals, went up by 11.5% from the last year’s identical period. Visitors from America reached 280 thousand arrivals, rose 10.8% over the same period last year. Visitors from Australia achieved 134.9 thousand arrivals, up 2.8% over the same period in 2015.
    
+ International visitors to Viet Nam

7. Social issues

a. Farmers’ food shortage

In four beginning months of the year, the country had 105.1 thousand times of households suffering from food shortage, down 9.2% compared to the similar period last year, corresponding to 427.4 thousand persons suffering from food shortage, down 10.4%. 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 localities provided difficult families with 8.5 thousand tons of grain food and about 590 million dongs.

b. Epidemic diseases and food poisoning

Generally, in four beginning months of the year, the country had over 8.5 thousand cases of hand, foot, mouth disease; 28.4 thousand cases of hemorrhagic fever (08 died); 62 cases of typhoid; 78 cases of virus encephalitis (01 died); 19 cases of meningococcal disease (01 died).

In the month, 892 HIV-infected cases were found, total number of alive HIV-infected persons over the country as of 17 April 2016 was 228 thousand persons, of which 85.1 thousand cases turned to AIDS. The number of persons died of AIDS over the country as of above time was 87 thousand persons.

From 17 December 2015 to 17 April 2016, the country had 26 serious cases of food poisoning, infecting 1386 persons, of which 02 cases died.

c. Traffic accidents

Generally, in four beginning months of the year, the country had 6627 cases of traffic accidents, including 3295 cases of traffic accidents and 3332 cases of traffic crashing, killing 2862 persons, injuring 1966 persons and injuring slightly 3882 others. In comparison with the same period last year, cases of the traffic accidents in four beginning months of the year decreased by 12.6% (cases of traffic accidents less serious and more reduced by 5.7%; cases of traffic collision by 18.5%); the death fell by 5.5%; the injured persons declined by 8%; and slightly injured persons decreased by 21.4%. On average, each day in four beginning months of the year, the country had 54 cases of traffic accident, including 27 cases of traffic accidents and 27 cases of traffic crashing, killing 23 persons and injuring 16 persons and injuring somewhat 32 persons.

d. Damage by natural calamity

Generally, in four beginning months of the year, natural calamity made 5 persons died and 24 persons injured; 8.3 thousand houses collapsed, blown off, unroofed; 14.6 thousand hectares of rice; 9.2 thousand hectares of vegetables and 1500 hectares of aquaculture damaged; 16.6 thousand head of cattle, 7.6 thousand fowls and nearly 730 tons of fishery died. The total value of damage caused by the disaster in four beginning months of 2016 was estimated over 1.1 trillion dongs.

As of 24 April 2016, over 15 provinces announced their drought and saltwater intrusion situation[6]. As of the present time, there were 424.1 thousand households suffering water shortage for daily life; 248.3 thousand hectares of rice, 18.9 hectares of vegetables, 53.8 thousand hectares of fruit trees, 105.2 thousand hectares of industrial trees and 5.7 thousand hectares of aquaculture damaged. Total value of damage was estimated to be nearly 6.4 trillion dongs.

e. Fire and explosion, environment protection

Generally, in four beginning months of 2016, authorities found 4374 cases of violating regulations of environment protection over the country, of which 1619 cases were treated with total fine of over 363.7 billion dongs.

Generally, in four beginning months of the year, the country had 1224 cases of fire and explosion, killing 21 persons and injuring 112 others, the value of damage was estimated about 635 billion dongs.

GENERAL STATISTICS OFFICE

[1]Some localities with the winter-spring rice decreased against the same period last year were Hung Yen with a decline of 1.6 thousand hectares; Ha Noi with a drop of 1.5 thousand hectares; Hai Duong, Ha Nam and Thanh Hoa with the same decrease of 1000 hectares.

[2]IPI in four beginning months of 2015 rose 9.6% over the previous year’s same period, of which the mining and quarrying increased by 7.5%; the manufacturing by 10.1%; the electricity power generation and distribution by 11.5%; the water supply and sewage treatment by 6.1%.

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

[4]The number of newly registered enterprises in four beginning months of 2015 rose 9.7%; the registered capital rose 13.3% from the same period in 2014.

[5] Average oil price reached US$ 36 per barrel, down US$ 24 per barrel compared to the estimated price.

[6]Of which, 6 provinces announced drought, including Gia Lai, Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan, Kon Tum, Dak Lak and Dak Nong; 6 provinces announced saltwater intrusion, including Ben Tre, Ca Mau, Kien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tien Giang and Long An; 3 provinces announced both drought and saltwater intrusion, including Vinh Long, Soc Trang and Bac Lieu.