GOV’T SETS STEEL SELF-SUFFICIENCY GOAL FOR 2050
The Government has approved a steel industry development strategy targeting 80–85% of domestic demand to be met by local production by 2030 and full self-sufficiency by 2050. Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son on February 9 signed Decision No. 261/QD-TTg approving the strategy, reported the Government news website (baochinhphu.vn).
RETAIL REVENUES FROM GOODS AND SERVICES GROW 9.3% IN JANUARY
Vietnam’s total retail revenues from goods and consumer services rose 9.3% year-on-year in January 2026, signaling a positive start for the trade and services sector this year, according to the National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Finance. Total retail sales of goods and consumer services at current prices were estimated at VND632.4 trillion in January. The figure increased 2.6% from the previous month and matched the year-on-year growth rate recorded in January 2025.
VIETNAM’S OUTBOUND INVESTMENTS JUMP IN JANUARY
Outbound investments by Vietnamese businesses surged to US$238.3 million in January, nearly tripling from a year earlier, according to the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance. The January total included 27 newly licensed projects with registered capital of US$230.8 million, 2.8 times higher than a year earlier. Two existing projects increased capital by a combined US$7.5 million.
VIETNAM’S AGRO-FORESTRY-FISHERY EXPORTS JUMP NEARLY 30% IN JANUARY
Vietnam’s exports of agricultural, forestry and fishery products surged nearly 30% year-on-year in January 2026, driven by strong growth across major commodity groups and key export markets, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. Export turnover for the sector in January is estimated at nearly US$6.51 billion, up 29.5% from the same period last year, the ministry said at a regular press briefing on February 5.
DONG NAI ATTRACTS NEARLY US$550 MILLION IN FDI EARLY THIS YEAR
Dong Nai Province has begun 2026 on a strong investment footing, attracting nearly US$550 million in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the early weeks of the year. On February 5, the provincial government presented investment certificates to three projects, including new and additional investments, during a conference with foreign-invested enterprises. The approvals highlight Dong Nai’s continued appeal to international investors.
VIETNAM SEES STEADY FDI DISBURSEMENT BUT SLOWER EXPANSION IN JANUARY
Foreign direct investment (FDI) disbursement in Vietnam rose in January, while newly registered capital fell sharply, pointing to stable project implementation but slower investment expansion. Data from the Ministry of Finance showed that January FDI disbursement increased 11.26% year-on-year to US$1.68 billion, reflecting continued execution and expansion of existing foreign-invested projects.
PUBLIC INVESTMENT DISBURSEMENT IN 2025 REACHES FIVE-YEAR HIGH
Vietnam’s public investment disbursement in 2025 reached the highest level in the 2021–2025 period, according to the Ministry of Finance. For capital carried forward from prior years, disbursement in all of 2025 totaled VND49.5 trillion, equivalent to 74.4% of the plan of over VND66.6 trillion. For the 2025 plan, total disbursement as of January 31, 2026 amounted to VND858.6 trillion, or 94.8% of the plan assigned by the prime minister (VND905.5 trillion).
VIETNAM RECORDS 8.02% GDP GROWTH, FASTEST IN ASEAN
According to the National Statistics Office (Ministry of Finance), Vietnam’s GDP in 2025 increased by 8.02% compared with 2024. This was slightly below the 8.12% growth recorded in 2022, the highest level in the past 15 years, driven primarily by the services and industrial manufacturing sectors. With this outcome, the average GDP growth for the 2021-2025 period reached approximately 6.3% per year, surpassing the 6.2% achieved in the previous term.
