SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION IN JANUARY 2017

1. Agriculture, forestry and fishery

a. Agriculture

As of January 15, 2017, the whole country cultivated 1824.8 thousand hectares of winter-spring rice, equaling 96.3% from the same period last year.

Together with the cultivation of winter-spring rice, as of mid-January, provinces over the country cultivated 171.7 thousand hectares of maize, equaling 94.6% from the similar period last year; 40.9 thousand hectares of sweet potato, equaling 87.3%; 14.9 thousand hectares of soybean, equaling 52.5%; 23.6 thousand hectares of peanut, equaling 69.6%; 325.6 thousand hectares of vegetables, equaling 100.4%.

As estimated, the whole country’s flock of buffaloes in January reduced by 0.1% versus the identical period last year; flock of oxen increased by 2%-2.3%; flock of pigs rose by 4.7%-5.2%; flock of poultry climbed by 4.5%-5%.
    
+ Agricultural production as of 15 January 2017

b. Forestry

In January, the whole country’s concentrated planted forest area was estimated to reach 1295 hectares, a decrease of 1.3% compared to the same period last year; the number of separate planted forest trees gained 718 thousand trees, a decrease of 4.5%; wood production gained 401 thousand m3, a rise of 11.7%; firewood production gained 1.5 million ster, a decline of 2.5%.

The damaged forest area in January was 30 hectares, of which the burnt area was 19 hectares; the destroyed area was 11 hectares.

c. Fishery

Fishing production in January was estimated to reach 427.2 thousand tons, up 0.8% from the same period last year, of which fish gained 317.5 thousand tons, down 1.1%; shrimp achieved 40.4 thousand tons, up 14.1%. The output of aquaculture in the month was estimated to attain 208.8 thousand tons, up 2.4% against the similar period last year, of which fish obtained 153.9 thousand tons, down 0.7%; shrimp reached 30.2 thousand tons, up 19.8%.

The output of fishing caught in January achieved an estimate of 217 thousand tons, down 1.3% from the same period last year, of which fish reached 163.6 thousand tons, down 1.5%; shrimp gained 10.2 thousand tons, equivalent to the figure in 2016’s similar period. The output of sea catching was estimated to achieve 204.4 thousand tons, down 1.4%, of which fish gained 150 thousand tons, down 1.6%; shrimp attained 9.4%, equivalent to the same period in 2016.

2. Industry

Industrial Production Index (IPI) in January 2017 was estimated to be at a low increase of 0.7% from the same period last year.

The consumption indexes for the whole manufacturing industry in December 2016 grew by 4.4% over the previous month and 11.1% over the same period last year. For the whole 2016, the consumption indexes moved up by 8.5% from 2015. The stock index for the entire manufacturing industry as of January 01, 2017 climbed by 8.3% compared to the similar period in 2016.  

The number of employees working in industrial enterprises as of January 01, 2017 rose by 1.1% compared to the same period last year, of which employees in the State sector decreased by 2.4%; employees in the non-State sector grew by 0.4%, and employees in the FDI sector went up by 2.5%.

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

3. Business registration situation[1]

In January 2017, the whole country had 8990 enterprises registered for new establishment with a total registered capital of 90.3 trillion dongs, up 8.1% in the number of enterprises and up 52.3% in the registered capital compared to 2016’s similar period; the average registered capital per newly established enterprise was 10 billion dongs, up 40.9%[2]. If it is included 114.6 trillion dongs of additionally

registered capital of the enterprises which changed to raise the capital, the total of registered and additional capital to the economy in January would be 204.9 trillion dongs. Newly established enterprises’ total registered number of employees in the month was 104.1 thousand persons, equaling 83.9% from the same period in 2016. In the month, there were 5564 enterprises re-operated, up 14.2% over the similar period last year, bringing the total of enterprises registered for new establishment and enterprises re-operated in January this year to nearly 14.6 thousand enterprises.

The number of enterprises which finished the procedure for dissolving in January 2017 was 1583 ones, increased by 18.3% from the same period last year, of which there were 1460 businesses with a registered capital of less than 10 billion dongs, accounting for 92.2% and up 16.3%. By types of enterprise, of the total number of enterprises which finished the procedure for dissolving, terminating operations, there were 592 single member limited liability companies (accounting for 37.4%); 487 two-member limited liability companies (accounting for 30.8%); 190 private businesses (accounting for 12%); and 314 joint-stock companies (representing 19.8%).

The number of enterprises which temporarily ceased operations in the month was 13289 ones, a rise of 6.7% over the identical period last year, of which 6822 enterprises registered for time-limited temporary cessation of business, up 31.7% and 6467 enterprises suspended operations without registration or waiting for dissolving, down 11.1%.

+ Number of enterprises re-operated by kinds of activity
+ Number of enterprises temporarily ceased operations by kinds of activity

4. Investment

The realized investment capital from the State budget in January reached a low level with 15203 billion dongs, equaling 5.3% of the yearly plan and 1.9% rise over the similar period in 2016, of which the capital under central management obtained 3325 billion dongs, equaling 4.8% of the annual plan and down 5.2% from the same period last year; the capital under local management achieved 11878 billion dongs, equaling 5.4% of the yearly plan and up 4% from 2016’s same period.

From the beginning of the year to January 20, 2017, the foreign direct investment (FDI) attracted 175 newly licensed projects with the registered capital of US$ 1243.8 million, up 37.8% in the number of projects and up 23% in the registered capital against the similar period in 2016. Besides, there were 76 times of license-granted projects from previous years which registered to adjust capital with the additional capital of US$ 179.2 million. Thus, the total registered capital of both newly and additionally financed projects reached US$ 1423 million, up 6.6% from the last year’s same period. Realized FDI capital in January 2017 was estimated to gain US$ 850 million, up 6.3% from 2016’s similar period.

In January 2017, the whole country had 26 provinces and cities directly under the central management which received newly licensed FDI projects from 31 nations and territories.

+ Realized investments under the State budget
+ Licensed FDI projects from January 01 to January 20, 2017

5. Government revenues and expenditures

Total estimated government revenues in the first 15 days of January 2017 achieved an estimate of 18.4 trillion dongs, equaling 1.5% of the yearly estimate, of which domestic revenues reached 12.5 trillion dongs, equaling 1.3%; collecting from crude oil gained 470 billion dongs, equaling 1.2%; collecting from export-import balance attained 5.4 trillion dongs, equaling 3%. Of the domestic revenues, 4.4 trillion dongs were from land use fee, equaling 6.9% of the annual estimate; 1.1 trillion dongs were from individual income tax, equaling 1.3%; 1.9 trillion dongs were from non-State industrial, commercial and non-state service taxes, equaling 1%; 758 billion dongs were from FDI enterprises (excluding crude oil), equaling 0.4%. 763 billion dongs were from from the State enterprises, equaling 0.3%; 91 billion dongs were from tax on environment protection, equaling 0.2%.

Total government expenditures in the first 15 days of January 2017 were estimated to reach 37.3 trillion dongs, equaling 2.7% of the yearly estimate, of which spending for development investment achieved 2 trillion dongs, equaling 0.6%; repayment of debts and their interest was 3 trillion dongs, equaling 3%; recurrent expenditures gained 32.3 trillion dongs, equaling 3.6%.

6. Trade, prices, transport and tourism

a. Retail sales of consumer goods and services

Total estimated retail sales of consumer goods and services in January reached 330.3 trillion dongs, up 5.6% compared to the previous month and up 9.9% against the same period last year, if the price factor were excluded, the growth rate would be 6.7%.

By kinds of economic activity, retail sales of goods in January gained 252.7 trillion dongs, increased by 6.5% over the previous month and 10.9% against the same period last year. Estimated sales of accommodation and catering services in January attained 37.3 trillion dongs, up 2.6% from the previous month and up 3.1% from the same period last year. Sales of travelling achieved an estimate of 3.4 trillion dongs, up 8% against the previous months and up 30.7% from the similar period last year. Sales of other services in January were estimated to achieve 36.9 trillion dongs, up 2.7% from the previous month and up 9.3% compared to 2016’s identical period.

+ Total retail sales of consumer goods and services

b. Exports and imports of goods

Export turnovers in January was estimated to reach US$ 14.60 billion, decreased by 12% from the previous month[3], of which the

domestic economic sector achieved US$ 4.31 billion, a decline of 12.1%; the FDI sector (including crude oil) gained US$ 10.29 billion, 11.9% decrease. Compared to the similar period last year, export turnovers in January 2017 grew by 7.6%, of which the domestic economic sector increased by 2.8%; the FDI sector (including crude oil) went up by 9.7%.

About the export market, the United States was the biggest export market of Vietnam in January 2017 with the turnover of US$ 3.3 billion, a rise of 9.5% compared to the last year’s same period. Followings were EU with US$ 2.9 billion, an increase of 4.8%; China with US$ 1.9 billion, up 38.6%; ASEAN with US$ 1.4 billion, up 0.5%; Japan with US$ 1.4 billion, a rise of 13.2%; South Korea with US$ 860 million, a rise of 14.4%.

Import turnovers in January 2017 reached an estimate of US$ 14.70 billion, down 13.9% from the previous month, of which the domestic economic sector gained US$ 6.20 billion, 18.4% decline; the FDI sector achieved US$ 8.50 billion, a decrease of 10.3%. Compared to the similar period last year, import turnovers in January 2017 were estimated to grow by 15.8%, of which the domestic economic sector moved up by 15.6%; the FDI sector climbed by 16%.

About the import market in the month, China was the biggest import market of Vietnam with the estimated turnover of US$ 4.3 billion, up 9.3% against 2016’s corresponding period. The next were South Korea with US$ 2.5 billion, up 19.3%; ASEAN with US$ 2.1 billion, up 15%; Japan with US$ 1.3 billion, up 25.2%; EU with US$ 890 million, up 18.3%; the United States with US$ 750 million, up 26.6%.

Trade balance of goods in 2016 was a surplus of US$ 2.5 billion, equivalent to 1.4% of export turnovers. Trade surplus in January 2017 was estimated to be US$ 100 million, of which the domestic economic sector had a trade deficit of US$ 1.9 billion; the FDI sector (including crude oil) had a trade surplus of US$ 1.8 billion.

+ Exports
+ Imports

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

CPI in January 2017 grew by 0.46% from the previous month and by 5.22% over over the same period last year.

Gold price index in January 2017 fell by 0.18% from the previous month, grew by 11.04% over against the same period in 2016. US dollar price index in January 2017 moved down by 0.07% from the previous month, increased by 0.55% compared to 2016’s similar period.

Core inflation in January 2017 went up by 0.28% compared to the previous month and by 1.88% over the same period last year.

+ Consumer price indexes, gold, US dollar price indexes and core inflation in January 2017

d. Carriage of passengers and cargos

Passenger carriage in January 2017 reached an estimate of 317 million passengers, raised by 7.7% over the corresponding period last year and 14.4 billion passengers-kilometers, by 10.2%. Of which passengers carried by road achieved 297.6 million passengers, a rise of 7.7% and 9.8 billion passengers-kilometers, a rise of 8.4%; by seaway: 549.1 thousand passengers, 8.5% increase and 27.3 million passengers-kilometers, 4.2% growth. Passenger carriage by airway reached a good level with 3.4 million passengers, an increase of 10.7% and 4.1 billion passengers-kilometers, an increase of 17.9%. Passenger carriage by railway reached 0.7 million passengers, a drop of 17.1% and 0.2 billion passengers-kilometers, a decline of 24% from the same period in 2016.

Cargo carriage in January was estimated to gain 118.9 million tons, up 11.5% from the same period last year and 21.7 billion tons-kilometers, up 5.2%. Of which the domestic transport reached 116.1 million tons, increased by 11.7% and 10.5 billion tons-kilometers, by 8.1%; overseas transport reached 32.8 million tons, grew by 2.6% and 11.2 billion tons-kilometers, by 2.7%. By types of transport, cargo transport by road obtained 92.6 million tons, up 12.7% and 5.7 billion tons-kilometers, up 11.4% from the same period last year; by waterway: 20.2 million tons, up 7.8% and 4.4 billion tons-kilometers, up 10%; by seaway: 5.6 million tons, up 5.1% and 11.2 billion tons-kilometers, up 0.7%; by railway: 0.5 million tons, a growth of 8.4% and 0.3 billion tons-kilometers, up 3.8%.

+ Carriage of passengers and cargos

e. International visitors to Vietnam

In January, international visitors to Vietnam was estimated to reach 1007.2 thousand arrivals, up 23.6% from the same period last year, of which visitors coming by airway increased by 26.6%; by road: a rise of 15.5%; by seaway: a decline of 18.7%. Compared to the previous month, international visitors to Vietnam grew by 12.3%.

In January, visitors to Vietnam from Asia achieved an estimate of 680.2 thousand arrivals, increased by 27.8% against the similar period last year. Visitors from the Europe were estimated to reach 183.6 thousand arrivals, went up by 17.7% from the last year’s identical period. Visitors from the America obtained 90.7 thousand arrivals, moved up by 17.5% over the same period last year.

+ International visitors to Vietnam

7. Social issues

a. Farmers’ food shortage

In January (as of January 19, 2017), the whole country had 43.6 thousand households suffering from food shortage, corresponding to 179.3 thousand persons suffering from food shortage. According to the preliminary report, to overcome this problem, all administrative levels, sectors, and localities provided difficult households with 4.1 thousand tons of grain food and 224 million dongs.

b. Epidemic diseases and food poisoning

In January 2017, the whole country had 3.6 thousand cases of hemorrhagic fever, down 31.6% from the same period last year; nearly 1.7 thousand cases of hand, foot, mouth disease, up 31.6%; 08 cases of virus encephalitis; 02 cases of meningococcal disease; 07 cases of Zika virus infection; and 28 poisoned persons, of which 04 cases died.

The total number of alive HIV-infected persons over the country as of January 17, 2017 was 232.1 thousand persons, of which 88.1 thousand cases turned to AIDS. The number of persons died of HIV/AIDS over the country as of above time-point was 89.6 thousand persons.

c. Traffic accidents

From December 16, 2016 to January 15, 2017, the whole country had 1702 cases of traffic accidents, including 852 cases of traffic accidents and 850 cases of traffic crashing, making 744 persons died, injuring 163 persons and injuring slightly 1015 others. In comparison with the same period last year, cases of the traffic accidents decreased by 0.8% (cases of traffic accidents less serious and more increased by 0.6%; cases of traffic collision declined by 2.2%); the death jumped up by 1.2%; the injured persons moved down by 68.7%; and slightly injured persons decreased by 1.5%. On average, each day in the month, the whole country had 55 cases of traffic accident, including 28 cases of traffic accidents and 27 cases of traffic crashing, making 24 persons died and injuring 05 persons and injuring somewhat 33 persons.

d. Fire and explosion, environment protection

In January 2017, functional authorities found 1502 cases of violating regulations of environment protection, of which 1200 cases were treated with total fine of 190.4 billion dongs.

In the month, the whole country had 446 cases of fire and explosion, killing 06 persons and injuring 21 others, the value of damage was estimated 73.4 billion dongs.

GENERAL STATISTICS OFFICE

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

[2] In January 2016, there were 8320 enterprises registered for new establishment with a total registered capital of 59.3 trillion dongs, the average registered capital per enterprise reached 7.1 billion dongs.

[3] Because the time of Tet holiday this year was mainly in January, the number of working days in January was fewer.