SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 2020

1. Production of agriculture, forestry and fishery

a) Agriculture

As of mid-February, 2,675.5 thousand hectares (ha) of winter-spring rice were cultivated throughout the country, equaling 98.3% of the cultivated rice area in the same period last year.

Along with the winter-spring rice cultivation, as of mid-February, localities over the country cultivated 195 thousand ha of maize, equaling 101.6% of the cultivated maize area in the similar period last year; 39.8 thousand ha of sweet potato, equaling 92.3%; 7.4 thousand ha of soya bean, equaling 85.1%; 79.6 thousand ha of peanut, equaling 103.8%; 414.4 thousand ha of vegetables and bean, equaling 101.7%. Estimated in February, the whole country’s cattle population increased by 2.4% compared to the identical period last year; buffalo population decreased by 3.1%; pig population saw a reduction of 23%; poultry population witnessed a rise of 13.8%.

As of February 22, 2020, in the whole country, there were 23 outbreaks of avian influenza under 21 days (20 outbreaks caused by H5N6 virus and 3 outbreaks caused by H5N1 virus) in 7 provinces[1] with total dead and culled poultry of more than 80,000; 79 foot and mouth disease outbreaks under 21 days in 7 provinces[2] with a total of 2.8 thousand infected heads; 32 localities with 100% of African swine fever over 30 days; and 25 localities with over 85% of communes over 30 days. There was no longer the blue-ear pig disease over the country.

+ Agricultural production as of February 15, 2020

b) Forestry

Generally for the first two months of 2020, the area of concentrated planted forest was estimated at 15.5 thousand ha, a rise of 1.3% compared to the same period last year. The number of separate planted forestry trees gained 10.4 million trees, an increase of 2%; wood production achieved 1.8 million m3, a growth of 3.6%; and 2.75 million steres of firewood production was recorded, a decline of 0.7%.

In general, in the first two months of the year, there were 63.4 ha of damaged forest, increasing by 9.3% over the same period last year, of which 4.9 ha were burnt, up 69%; 58.5 ha were destroyed, up 6.2%.

c) Fishery

Generally, in the first two months of 2020, fishing production was estimated at 1,004.2 thousand tons, increasing by 2.7% from the corresponding period last year (it climbeb by 4.6% in the same period in 2019), of which the output of aquaculture was 500.3 thousand tons, recording a rise of 2.2%; the production of fishery caught witnessed a growth of 3.2% with 503.9 thousand tons (sea catching reached 477.2 thousand tons, up 3.6%).

2. Industry

Index of industrial production (IIP) in February 2020 was estimated to increase by 8.4% from the previous month and by 23.7% against the similar period last year. Generally for the first two month of 2020, IIP was estimated to go up by 6.2% over the same period last year.

The number of laborers working in industrial enterprises as of February 01, 2020 witnessed a rise of 1% over the same period last month and a rise of 2.1% against the similar period last year.

+ Industrial Production Index in February 2020
+ Main industrial products in February 2020
+ Labor employed index (LEI) for industrial enterprises
+ Labor employed index (LEI) for industrial enterprises by province

3. Business registration situation[3]

Generally for the first two months of 2020[4], there were 17.4 thousand enterprises registered for new establishment with a registered capital of VND 220 trillion and the registered labor of 157.5 thousand persons, up 9.1% in the number of enterprises and down 11.1% in the amount of registered capital  and down 3.9% in the number of laborers compared to the same period last year. The average registered capital per new enterprise in two months was VND 12.6 billion, decreasing by 18.5% against the same period last year. The total registered capital added to the economy in the first two months of 2020 was VND 641 trillion, including VND 421 trillion of the additional capital of 5.7 thousand enterprises registering to increase capital, showing a decline of 26.2% from the same period last year. In addition, there were 11.9 thousand enterprises resumed operation, increasing by 17.1% over the similar period in 2019, bringing the total number of newly registered enterprises and re-operated enterprises in two months to 29.4 thousand ones. On average, there were nearly 14.7 thousand newly established enterprises and resumed ones each month.

By economic sector, in the first two months of the year, there were 265 newly established enterprises in the sector of agriculture, forestry and fishery, up 17.3% compared to the same period in 2019; 4.7 thousand ones in the industry and construction sector, up 8.4%; 12.5 thousand ones in the service sector, up 9.2%.

In the first two months of the year, the number of enterprises suspending operation for a definite time was 16.2 thousand ones, increasing by 19.5% compared to the similar period last year; the number of enterprises ceased operation waiting for dissolution procedures was 9.4 thousand ones, showing a decline of 31.4%; the number of enterprises completed dissolution procedures was 2.8 thousand ones, a reduction of 11.1%, of which 2.5 thousand ones had the capital size of less than 10 billion dongs, down 13.4%.

+ Some indicators on enterprises
+ Number of newly registered enterperises
+ Number of re-operated enterprises
+ Number of enterprises suspending for a definite time
+ Number of enterprises completed dissolution procedures

4. Investment

Generally for the first two months of the year, a 17.8% growth in total realized investment capital under the State budget compared to the corresponding period last year was recorded with the capital of VND 36.9 trillion, equalling 8.3% of the annual plan (it equalled 8.2% of the yearly plan and  increased by 3.8% in the same period of 2019), of which the capital under central management reached VND 5 trillion dongs, equalling 7.2% of the annual plan and increasing by 21.1% from the similar period last year; the capital under local management reached VND 31.9 trillion, equalling 8.5% of the annual plan and climbing by 17.4% compared to the identical period in 2019.

The total foreign investment in Vietnam as of February 20, 2020 including the newly registered, adjusted capital, contributed capital and shares purchased by foreign investors, reached nearly US$ 6.5 billion, down 23.6% compared to the same period in 2019. In particular, there were 500 newly licensed projects with a total registered capital of US$ 5 billion, a decline of 2.7% in the number of projects and a rise of 104.7% in the amount of registered capital against the similar period last year. In addition, there were 151 turns of license-granted projects from previous years registered to adjust investment capital with an additional capital of US$ 638.1 million, dropping by 25.4%; 1,583 turns of capital contribution and share purchase of foreign investors with the total contributed capital of US$ 827.3 million, down 84%. Of turns of capital contribution and share purchase of foreign investors, there were 265 turns of capital contribution, share purchase increased the charter capital of enterprises with the contributed capital of US$ 283.3 million, and 1,318 turns of foreign investors bought domestic shares back without increasing charter capital with the value of nearly US$ 544 million. The realized foreign direct investment capital in two months was estimated at US$ 2.5 billion, down 5% over the similar period last year. There were 38 countries and territories having newly licensed investment projects in Vietnam in the first two months of this year.

Vietnam’s direct investment abroad in two months recorded 20 projects newly granted the Outward Investment Registration Certificate with Vietnam’s total investment capital of US$ 21.4 million; 02 projects adjusted the capital with additional capital of US$ 8.9 million. Generally, Vietnam’s total offshore investment capital (including newly granted and additional capital) gained US$ 30.3 million. In the first two months of the year, 12 countries and territories received Vietnam’s investment.

+ Realized investment capital under the State budget
+ Licensed FDI projects from January 01 to February 20, 2020

5. Government revenues and expenditures

Total estimated government revenues from the beginning of the year to February 15, 2020 achieved VND 214.2 trillion, equalling 14.2% of the annual estimate, of which domestic revenues recorded VND 179.8 trillion, equalling 14.2%; collecting from crude oil gained VND 8.6 trillion, equalling 24.3%; from export-import balance obtained VND 25.9 trillion, equalling 12.4%. In domestic revenues, revenues from State owned enterprises was VND 21.3 trillion, equalling 12% of the yearly estimate; revenues from foreign-invested enterprises (excluding crude oil) was VND 36.5 trillion, equalling 16%; VND 42 trillion were collected from non-State industrial, commercial and service taxes, equalling 15.5%; personal income tax revenue was VND 15.3 trillion, equalling 11.9%; VND 4.6 trillion were collected from environmental protection tax, equalling 6.7%; collecting from land use fees reached VND 17.3 trillion, equalling 18%.

Total government expenditures from the beginning of the year to February 15, 2020 was estimated at VND 145 trillion, equalling 8.3% of the yearly estimate, of which regular expenditures were VND 116.1 trillion, equalling 11%; expenditure on development investment achieved VND 7.4 trillion, equalling 1.6%; VND 21.4 trillion were spent on interest payment, equalling 18.1%.

6. Trade, prices, transport and tourism

a) Retail sales of consumer goods and services

Total retail sales of consumer goods and services in the first two months of 2020 reached VND 863.9 trillion, increasing by 8.3% over the same period last year, if excluding the price factor, the growth rate was 5.4% (it expanded by 9.3% in the same period in 2019).

By kinds of economic activity, retail sales of goods in the first two months of this year gained  an estimate of VND 674 trillion, accounting for 78% of the total and going up by 9.8% over the similar period last year. Estimated sales of accommodation and catering services in the first two months of the year recorded VND 95 trillion, taking 11% of the total and increasing only 1.7% compared to the similar period last year. Sales of travelling in the first two month of the year achieved an estimate of VND 7.4 trillion, holding 0.9% of the total and growing by 1.1% in comparison with the same period last year. Sales of other services in the first two months of the year was estimated at VND 87.5 trillion, representing 10.1% of the total and moving up by 5.2% against the identical period in 2019.

+ Total retail sales of consumer goods and services

b) Merchandize exports and imports

Merchandize exports

Generally for the first two months of 2020, export turnover of goods was estimated at US$ 36.92 billion, a rise of 2.4% from the same period last year, of which the domestic economic sector achieved US$ 11.41 billion, jumping up by 6%; the FDI sector (including crude oil) gained US$ 25.51 billion (accounting for 69.1% of the total export turnover), expanding by 0.9%.

Regarding merchandize export market, the United States was the biggest export market of Vietnam in the first two months of 2020 with the turnover of US$ 9.8 billion, going up by 19.6% over  the same period last year; followed by China with US$ 4.8 billion, up 3.7%; EU with US$ 5 billion, down 7.7%; ASEAN with US$ 3.5 billion, down 9.3%; Japan with US$ 3.2 billion, up 8.9%; and South Korea with US$ 2.7 billion, down 6.5%.

Merchandize imports

Generally, import turnover of goods in the first two months of 2020 reached an estimate of US$ 37.10 billion, moving up by 2.4% from the same period last year, of which the domestic economic sector gained US$ 15.35 billion, climbing by 2.7%; the FDI sector achieved US$ 21.75 billion, jumping up by 2.2%.

About merchandize import market in two months, China was the largest import market of Vietnam with estimated turnover of US$ 10 billion, decreasing by 0.4% against the corresponding period last year; followed by South Korea with US$ 8 billion, climbing by 9%; ASEAN with US$ 4.5 billion, falling by 9.6%; Japan with US$ 2.8 billion, moving up by 0.2%; EU with US$ 2.1 billion, growing by 3.5%; the United States with US$ 2.1 billion, going up by 13.6%.

Overall, in the first two months of 2020, it was estimated that Vietnam had trade deficit of US$ 176 million[5], of which the domestic economic sector recorded a trade deficit of US$ 3.94 billion; the FDI sector (including crude oil) saw a trade surplus of US$ 3.76 billion.

+ Exports
+ Imports

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

In the 0.17% decrease of CPI in February 2020 compared to the previous month, there were 6/11 groups of goods and services with reduced price index.

Average CPI in the first two months of 2020 increased by 5.91% compared to that in the same period of 2019; CPI in February 2020 went up by 1.06% against December 2019 and by 5.4% from the similar period last year.

Core inflation in February 2020 moved up by 0.17% from the previous month and by 2.94% over the identical period last year. Average core inflation in the first two months of this year increased by 3.1% over the similar period in 2019.

Domestic gold price index in February 2020 recorded a rise of 2.74% from the previous month, an increase of 0.34% over December 2019 and a growth of 0.06% against the same period last year.

The US dollar price index in February 2020 witnessed a 0.32% increase over the previous month, a 0.34% growth against December 2019 and a rise of 0.06% compared to the same period last year.

+ Consumer price indexes, gold, US dollar price indexes and core inflation in February 2020

d) Transport of passengers and cargos

Generally for the first two months of 2020, transport of passengers reached an estimate of 875.3 million passengers, a rise of 3.8% over the corresponding period last year (a growth of 10.2% in the same period in 2019) and 43 billion passengers-km, a rise of 4.9% (an increase of 10.5% in the similar period in 2019), of which domestic transport gained 872.3 million passengers, up 3.8% and 34.2 billion passengers-km, up 5.6%; overseas transport achieved 3 million passengers, increasing by 4.9% and 8.8 billion passengers-km, expanding by 2.4%. By types of transport, transport by road in two months achieved 830.1 million passengers, going up by 3.8% from the same period last year and 28.5 billion passengers-km, moving up by 3.7%; transport by inland waterway gained 33.6 million passengers, climbing by 2.8% and 700.1 million passengers-km, increasing by 4.6%; transport by seaway reached 1.2 million passengers, decreasing by 0.7% and 78.9 million passengers-km, falling by 1.8%; transport by airway recorded 9.2 million passengers, jumping up by 9.7% and 13 billion passengers-km, climbing by 8.7%; transport by railway reached 1.2 million passengers, reducing by 14.9% and 586.6 million passengers-km, decreasing by 10.8%.

Generally, the freight in two months reached 297.3 million tons, an increase of 6.1% against the similar period last year (it moved up by 8.7% in the same period in 2019) and 56.6 billion tons-km, a rise of 4.3% (it expanded by 6.4% in the identical period in 2019), of which the domestic freight reached 291.3 million tons, up 6.1% and 30.6 billion tons-km, up 4.9%; oversea freight reached 6 million tons, up 3.5% and 26 billion tons-km, up 3.7%. By types of freight, freight by road in two months reached 232.1 million tons, increasing by 7.1% compared to the identical period last year and 15.6 billion tons-km, climbing by 7%; freight by inland waterway reached 50.8 million tons, growing by 2.9% and 10.9 billion tons-km, increasing by 3.3%; freight by seaway reached 13.7 million tons, a 2.1% increase and 28.3 billion tons-km, a rise of 3.1%; freight by airway reached 58.1 thousand tons, a growth of 5.1% and 1.3 billion tons-km, an increase of 14%; freight by railway reached 662.5 thousand tons, a decrease of 6.8% and 446.8 million tons-km, a drop of 10%.

+ Carriage of passengers and cargos

e) International visitors to Vietnam

International visitors to Vietnam in the first two months of the year was estimated at 3,236.9 thousand arrivals, moving up by 4.8% compared to the same period last year, of which visitors coming by airway gained 2,616.5 thousand arrivals, jumping up by 8%; visitors coming by road achieved 485.3 thousand arrivals, going down by 20.7%; visitors coming by seaway witnessed a rise of 146.1% with 135.1 thousand arrivals.

In two months, visitors coming from Asia recorded 2,431.4 thousand arrivals, accounting for 75.1% of total international visitors to Vietnam, increasing by 4.7% over the identical period last year. Visitors from Europe reached an estimate of 502.1 thousand arrivals, a rise of 8.8% from the same period last year. Visitors from America gained 206.8 thousand arrivals, decreasing by 0.9% over the corresponding period last year. Visitors from Australia achieved 86.7 thousand arrivals, dropping by 2%. Visitors from Africa reached 9.9 thousand arrivals, growing by 17.7% over the same period in 2019.

+ International visitors to Vietnam

7. Social issues

a) People’s life and social security

Generally for the first two months of the year, the whole country had 3.8 thousand households suffering from food shortage, a reduction of 85.8% compared to the same period last year, corresponding to 13.3 thousand persons suffering from this difficulty, a drop of 86.4%. To overcome this problem, from the beginning of the year, all administrative levels, sectors and organizations from the central to local supported difficult households with 205.3 tons of rice.

b) Epidemic diseases and food poisoning

Generally, in the first two months of 2020, the whole country had 14.7 thousand cases of hemorrhagic fever (1 case died); 3,140 thousand cases of hand, foot, mouth disease;  51 cases of virus encephalitis, 1 case of meningococcal disease; and  1,330 cases of scarlet fever suspected for measles, of which 59 cases were positive for measles.

The situation of acute respiratory disease caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the world is becoming more and more complicated[6]. In Viet Nam, thanks to the drastic direction of all levels and sectors from the central to local, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID_19) is strictly controlled. By 7AM on February 27, 2020, there were 16 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and all has been cured.

Total number of alive HIV-infected persons over the country as of February 18, 2020 was 210.2 thousand persons and 97.1 thousand cases turned to AIDS. The number of persons died of HIV/AIDS as of above time-point was 98.6 thousand persons.

Generally for the first two months of 2020, the whole country recorded 11 cases of food poisoning with 222 poisoned persons (2 deaths).

c) Traffic accidents

Generally for the first two months of the year, 2,368 traffic accidents occurred nationwide, including 1,321 cases of traffic accidents from less serious to become and 1,047 cases of traffic collisions, causing 1,125 deaths, 689 injuries and 1,092 minor injuries. Compared to the same period last year, the number of traffic accidents in the first two months of 2020 declined by 16.1% (number of traffic accidents of differently serious levels reduced by 13.6%; number of traffic collisions decreased by 19%); number of death fell by 17%; number of injuries went down by 15% and number of minor injuries dropped by 19.4%. On average, there were 38 traffic accidents occurred nationwide each day in two months, including 21 traffic accidents from less serious to become and 17 traffic collisions, causing 18 deaths, 11 injuries and 18 minor injuries.

d) Natural calamity, environmental pollution, fire and explosion

Generally for the first two months of 2020, natural calamity made 15.9 thousand ha of rice and crops damaged; 6 houses collapsed;  15.8 thousand houses damaged. The total loss in asset caused by natural disasters was estimated at VND 175.6 billion.

Generally, the first two months of this year found 1,366 cases of violating regulations of environment protection over the country, of which 1,144 cases were treated with total fine of VND 17.2 billion.

Generally, in two months, there were 512 fire and explosion cases in the whole country, causing 15 deaths and 45 injuries, with an estimated damage of nearly VND 101 billion.

GENERAL STATISTICS OFFICE

[1] Avian influenza is still found in localities: Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Tra Vinh and Binh Duong.

[2] Foot and mouth disease is still found in localities: Quang Ninh, Yen Bai, Nghe An, Son La, Quang Tri, Quang Ngai and

Quang Nam.

[3] Source: National Business Registration Information System, Agency for Business Registration, Ministry of Planning and

Investment.

[4] Excluding an enterprise in Hanoi registered for new establishment in the area of real estate business in January 2020 with the registered capital of VND 144 trillion.

[5] Of which trade surplus with EU gained US$ 2.9 billion, a decline of 14.6% compared to the same period last year; trade deficit with China was US$ 5.2  billion, a 3.9% reduction; trade deficit with South Korea was US$ 5.3 billion, a rise of 19.2%; trade deficit with ASEAN was US$ 1 billion, a fall of 11%.

[6] By 7AM on February 27, 2020, the world recorded 81,380 confirmed cases of COVID-19 (2,771 deaths), of which China had 78,066 confirmed cases (2,715 deaths); Japan reported 877 confirmed cases (7 deaths); South Korea recorded 1,261 confirmed cases (12 deaths).


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