SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SITUATION IN ELEVEN MONTHS OF 2018

1. Production of agriculture, forestry and fishery

a) Agriculture

As of mid-November, the whole country harvested 1469.7 thousand hectares (ha) of winter rice, accounting for 87.3% of the cultivated area[1] and equaling 98.1% of the harvested area in the same period last year, of which provinces in the North harvested 1085.5 thousand ha, accounting for 98.3% of the cultivated area and equaling 96.9% of the harvested area in the same period last year; provinces in the South harvested 384.2 thousand ha, accounting for 66.3% of the cultivated area and equaling 101.7% of the harvested area in the same period last year. Generally, the winter rice productivity in 2018 was estimated to reach 4910 kilograms per ha (kg/ha), increasing 320 kg/ha; the production gained nearly 8.3 million tons, increasing 403 thousand tons.

As of November 15, 2018, localities in the Mekong Delta cultivated 732.1 thousand ha of autumn-winter rice, equaling 90.4% of the cultivated area in the same period last year. Up to the present, the whole region harvested 383.4 thousand ha of autumn-winter rice, accounting for 52.4% of the cultivated area and equaling 89% of the harvested area in the same period last year. According to the preliminary report, the productivity of the whole crop was estimated to reach 5320 kg/ha, an increase of 90 kg/ha compared with the autumn-winter crop last year; the estimated production reached 3.9 million tons, a decline of 343.2 thousand tons.

As of November 15, 2018, the whole country cultivated 100.3 thousand ha of maize, equaling 101.8% of the cultivated maize area in the same period last year; 21.2 thousand ha of sweet potato, equaling 98.6% of the planted sweet potato area in the same period last year; 4.7 thousand ha of soya, equaling 102.2% of the planted soya area in the same period last year; 4.9 thousand ha of peanut, equaling 96.1% of the planted peanut area in the same period last year; 144.6 thousand ha of vegetables, equaling 105.9% of the planted vegetables area in the same period last year.

The whole country’s buffalo population was estimated to reduce by 1% compared to the same period last year; cattle population increased by 2.2%; pig population grew by 2.8%; poultry population put up by 5.8%.

+ Agricultural production as of November 15, 2018

b) Forestry

Generally, in eleven months, the concentrated planted forest area nationwide was estimated to reach 213 thousand ha, a decline of 1.4% compared to the same period last year; the number of separate planted trees gained 76.6 million trees, a reduce of 0.3%; wood production achieved 11.6 million m3, a rise of 10.1%; firewood production gained 22 million steres, a decline of 1.3%.

Generally, in eleven months of this year, damaged forest area was 1270.4 ha, a decrease of 16.9% against the same period last year, of which the burnt forest area was 741.1 ha, a rise of 43.3%; the destroyed forest area was 529.3 ha, a decline of 47.7%.

c) Fishery

Generally, in eleven months, the whole country’s fishing production was estimated at 6873.7 thousand tons, a rise of 6.2% from the same period last year, of which the ouput of aquaculture gained 3688.9 thousand tons, up 6.9%; the production of fishery caught achieved 3184.8 thousand tons, up 5.3% (the production of sea catching reached 2997.3 thousand tons, up 5.6%).

2. Industry

Generally, in eleven months of 2018, the index of industrial production (IIP) was estimated to increase by 10.1% over the similar period last year, lower than the growth rate of 10.3% in the same period in 2017[2], of which the manufacturing increased by 12.2%, contributed 9.5 percentage points to the overall growth; the production and distribution of electricity grew by 9.6%, contributed 0.8 percentage point; the water supply and waste treatment increased by 6.3%, contributed 0.1 percentage point; only the mining and quarrying fell by 2%, reduced 0.3 percentage point of the general growth.

The number of employees working in industrial enterprises as of November 01, 2018 climbed by 3.1% over the same period last year, of which employees in the State enterprise sector decreased 0.9%; employees in the non-State enterprise sector grew by 4.1%; and employees in the FDI enterprise sector went up by 3.4%.

+ Industrial Production Index
+ Main industrial products
+ Labor employed index (LEI) for industrial enterprises

3. Business registration situation[3]

Generally, in eleven months, the whole country had 121248 enterprises  registered for new establishment with a total registered capital of 1234.4 trillion dongs, an increase of 4.5% in the number of enterprise and 9.1% rise in the registered capital compared with the same period in 2017[4]. Average registered capital per newly established enterprise reached 10.2 billion dongs, up 4.1%. Total registered capital added to the economy in eleven months of 2018 was 3432.6 trillion dongs, including 2198.2 trillion dongs of enterprises increasing their capital. In addition, there were 31869 enterprises returning to operation, a rise of 30.9% over the similar period last year, bringing the total number of newly registered enterprises and re-operated enterprises in eleven months of this year to over 153.1 thousand enterprises. Total registered employees of the newly established enterprises in eleven months of 2018 was 1107.1 thousand persons, a decrease of 4.5% against the same period last year.

The number of temporarily ceased enterprises in eleven months of 2018 was 83108 ones, an increase of 49.3% against the identical period last year, including 25977 enterprises registered for time-limited temporary cessation of business, rising by 24.8% and 57131 enterprises temporarily suspended operation without registering or waiting for dissolution, increasing by 64%[5].

The number of enterprises which finished the procedure for dissolution in eleven months of 2018 was 14861 ones, an increase of 37.4% from the same period last year, of which there were 13598 enterprises with capital size of less than 10 billion dongs, accounting for 91.5% and growing by 37.3%.

+ Number of enterprises registered for new establishment
+ Number of re-operated enterprises by kinds of activity
+ Number of temporarily ceased enterprises by kinds of activity

4. Investment

Generally, in eleven months of this year, realized investment capital under the State budget reached 284.7 trillion dongs, equaling 82.1% of the annual plan and increasing by 12.8% against the same period last year (it equaled 82% of the yearly plan and grew by 7.5% in 2017’s same period), of which the capital under central management obtained 52.4 trillion dongs, equaling 79.6% of the annual plan and decreasing by 5.9% over the identical period last year; the capital under local management achieved 232.3 trillion dongs, equaling 82.7% of the annual plan and increasing by 18.1% compared with the same period in 2017.

From the beginning of the year to November 20, 2018, FDI attracted 2714 newly licensed projects with the total registered capital of US$ 15788.4 million, an increase of 18.4% in the number of projects and a decline of 20.3% in the registered capital against the similar period in 2017. Besides, there were 1059 turns of license-granted projects from previous years registered to adjust investment capital with the additional capital of US$ 7403.3 million, down 7.4% from the same period last year. Therefore, the total of newly registered capital and additional capital in eleven months reached US$ 23191.7 million, down 16.6% from 2017’s same period. Realized FDI capital in eleven months of this year was estimated at US$ 16.5 billion, increasing by 3.1% over the identical period in 2017.  In eleven months of 2018, there were 5882 turns of capital contribution and share purchase of foreign investors with a total contributory value of US$ 7.61 billion, a growth of 44.4% against the same period in 2017, of which 995 turns of capital contribution and share purchase increased the charter capital of enterprises with the contributed capital of US$ 2.96 billion and 4887 turns of foreign investors bought back domestic shares without increasing charter capital with the value of US$ 4.68 billion.

In eleven months, 54 provinces and centrally-run cities nationwide received newly licensed foreign direct investment projects from 74 countries and territories.

Vietnam’s direct investment abroad in 11 months of this year had 125 projects newly granted the Outward Investment Registration Certificate with Vietnam’s total investment capital of US$ 303.6 million; 30 projects adjusting the capital with additional capital of US$ 54 million. Generally, Vietnam’s total offshore investment capital (including newly granted and additional capital) in eleven months of 2018 gained US$ 357.6 million. In eleven months, there were 35 countries and territories receiving Vietnam’s investment.

+ Realized investment capital under the State budget in November and 11 months of 2018
+ Licensed FDI projects from January 01 to November 20, 2018

5. Government revenues and expenditures

Total estimated government revenues from the beginning of the year to November 15, 2018 achieved 1160.1 trillion dongs, equaling 87.9% of the annual estimate, of which domestic revenues reached 926.9 trillion dongs, equaling 84.3%; collecting from crude oil gained 54.3 trillion dongs, equaling 151.3%; from export-import balance obtained 174.9 trillion dongs, equaling 97.7%.

Total government expenditures from the beginning of the year to November 15, 2018 was estimated at 1166.2 trillion dongs, equaling 76.6% of the yearly estimate, of which regular expenditures were 806.8 trillion dongs, equaling 85.8%; expenditure on development investment achieved 239.8 trillion dongs, equaling 60%; expenditure on interest payment was 93.5 trillion dongs, equaling 83.1%.

6. Trade, prices, transport and tourism

a) Retail sales of consumer goods and services

Generally, in eleven months of 2018, total estimated retail sales of consumer goods and services reached 4000.1 trillion dongs, up 11.5% against the same period last year, if excluding the price factor, the growth rate was 9.34% (it increased by 9.25% in the same period in 2017).

By kinds of economic activity, retail sales of goods in eleven months of this year gained an estimate of 3007.2 trillion dongs, accounting for 75.2% of the total and increasing by 12.3% over the similar period last year. Estimated sales of accommodation and catering services in eleven months attained 488.6 trillion dongs, accounting for 12.2% of the total and moving up by 8.6% from the same period last year. Sales of travelling in eleven months of this year achieved an estimate of 37 trillion dongs, making up 0.9% of the total and climbing by 14.7% against the similar period last year. Sales of other services in eleven months was estimated at 467.3 trillion dongs, representing 11.7% of the total and increasing by 9.8% compared to the identical period in 2017.

+ Total retail sales of consumer goods and services

b) Exports and imports of goods

Generally, in eleven months of 2018, export turnover of goods was estimated to reach US$ 223.63 billion, a rise of 14.4% compared with the same period in 2017, of which the domestic economic sector achieved US$ 63.24 billion, moving up by 17.2%; the FDI sector (including crude oil) gained US$ 160.39 billion (accounting for 71.7% of total export turnover), increasing by 13.4%.

Regarding export markets in eleven months, the United States was the largest export market of Vietnam with the turnover of US$ 43.7 billion, up 15% over  the same period last year; followed by EU with US$ 38.2 billion, an increase of 8.8%; China with US$ 38.1 billion, a rise of 23.2%; ASEAN with US$ 22.7 billion, an increase of 14%; Japan with US$ 17.1 billion, a growth of 11.5%; South Korea with US$ 16.9 billion, a growth of 24.7%.

Generally, in eleven months, import turnover of goods reached an estimate of US$ 216.82 billion, up 12.4% from the same period last year, of which the domestic economic sector gained US$ 86.63 billion, up 12.6%; the FDI sector achieved US$ 130.19 billion, up 12.3%.

About import markets in eleven months, China was still the largest import market of Vietnam with turnover of US$ 59.7 billion, up 13% against the corresponding period in 2017; followed by South Korea with US$ 43.5 billion, increasing by 1.7%; ASEAN with US$ 29 billion, climbing by 13.5%; Japan with US$ 17.5 billion, moving up by 15.2%; EU with US$ 12.6 billion, growing by 14.3%; the United States with US$ 11.8 billion, jumping up by 38.7%.

Generally, in eleven months, trade surplus was US$ 6.8 billion[6], in which the domestic economic sector recorded a trade deficit of US$ 23.4 billion; the FDI sector (including crude oil) recorded a trade surplus of US$ 30.2 billion.

+ Exports
+ Imports

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

Average CPI in eleven months of 2018 increased by 3.59% compared to the similar period in 2017. CPI in November 2018 grew by 3.24% over December 2017 and by 3.46% from the same period in 2017.

The average core inflation in eleven months of 2018 rose by 1.46% over the same period in 2017.

Gold price index in November 2018 went up by 0.98% over the previous month, moved down by 0.81% from December 2017 and fell by 0.93% over the same period last year. The US dollar price index in November 2018 fell by 0.03% over the previous month, increased by 2.77% compared to December 2017 and grew by 2.79% against the same period in 2017.

+ Consumer price indexes, gold, US dollar price indexes and core inflation in November 2018

d) Carriage of passengers and cargos

Generally, in eleven months of 2018, passenger carriage reached 4238.6 million passengers, a rise of 10.6% over the corresponding period last year and 189.6 billion passengers-kilometers, a rise of 11%, of which passengers carried by road achieved 4000.2 million passengers, a rise of 10.8% and 131.2 billion passengers-kilometers, a rise of 11.1%; by inland waterway: 178.4 million passengers, 6.9% and 3.4 billion passengers-kilometers, up 7.3%; by seaway: 6.8 million passengers, 7.2% increase and 405.2 million passengers-kilometers, 7.5% growth; by airway: 45.1 million passengers, an increase of 11.9% and 51.3 billion passengers-kilometers, an increase of 12.3%. Only passenger carriage by railway reached 8.1 million passengers, a drop of 8.7% and 3.3 billion passengers-kilometers, a decline of 3.1%.

Generally, in eleven months, cargo carriage gained 1491.7 million tons, up 9.8% from the same period last year and 279.3 billion tons-kilometers, up 7.4%, of which the domestic transport reached 1460.8 million tons, increasing by 9.9% and 154.1 billion tons-kilometers, going up by 11%; overseas transport reached 30.8 million tons, moving up by 2.2% and 125.2 billion tons-kilometers, growing by 3.4%. By types of transport, cargo transport by road obtained 1151.2 million tons, a rise of 10.6% over the same period last year and 76.1 billion tons-kilometers, up 11.4%; by inland waterway: 263.7 million tons, up 7.3% and 55.7 billion tons-kilometers, an increase of 7.7%; by seaway: 71.2 million tons, going up by 6.4% and 142.9 billion tons-kilometers, climbing by 5.2%; by railway: 5.2 million tons, a rise of 2.4% and 3.7 billion tons-kilometers, an increase of 13.2%; by airway: 369.2 thousand tons, up 18.6% and 976.5 million tons-kilometers, up 17.2%.

+ Carriage of passengers and cargos

e) International visitors to Vietnam

Generally, in eleven months of this year, international visitors to Vietnam was estimated at 14123.6 thousand arrivals, a rise of 21.3% compared to the same period last year, of which visitors coming by airway gained 11397.3 thousand arrivals, moving up by 15.3%; by road: 2521.9 thousand arrivals, rising by 64.4%; by seaway: 204.4 thousand arrivals, decreasing by 11.3%.

In eleven months, visitors from Asia reached 10983.9 thousand arrivals, accounting for 77.8% of the total visitors to Vietnam, increasing by 25.3% over the identical period last year. Visitors from the Europe reached an estimate of 1867.2 thousand arrivals, up 8.7% from the same period last year. Visitors from the America reached 830.7 thousand arrivals, increasing by 11.4% over the corresponding period last year. Visitors from the Australia gained 403.7 thousand arrivals, increasing by 4.9%. Visitors from the Africa achieved 38.2 thousand arrivals, growing by 19.7% over the same period in 2017.

+ International visitors to Vietnam

7. Social issues

a) Farmers’ food shortage

Generally, in eleven months of this year, the whole country had 104.1 thousand households suffering from food shortage, a decrease of 40.7% from the same period last year, corresponding to 415.9 thousand persons suffering from food shortage, a decline of 42.3%. To overcome this problem, from the beginning of the year, all administrative levels, sectors and organizations from central to local level supported difficult households with 7.4 thousand tons of grain and over 1.6 billion dongs.

b) Epidemic diseases and food poisoning

Generally, in eleven months of 2018, the whole country had nearly 110.6 thousand cases of hand, foot, mouth disease (6 cases died); 100.8 thousand cases of hemorrhagic fever (13 cases died); 574 cases of typhoid; 703 cases of virus encephalitis (21 cases died); 35 cases of meningococcal disease (2 cases died); 635 cases of whooping cough (2 cases died); 76 human cases of streptococcus suis infection (6 cases died); and 69 cases died of rabies.

Total number of alive HIV-infected persons over the country as of November 18, 2018 was 208.7 thousand persons and 94.3 thousand cases turned to AIDS. The number of persons died of HIV/AIDS nationwide as of above time-point was 98.13 thousand persons.

Generally, in eleven months, the whole country had 79 cases of food poisioning, making 2847 persons poisoned (11 cases died).

c) Traffic accidents

Generally, in eleven months of 2018, 16820 traffic accidents occurred nationwide, including 8679 cases of traffic accidents from less serious to become and 8141 cases of traffic collisions, causing 7495 deaths, 4701 injuries and 8405 minor injuries. Compared to the same period last year, the number of traffic accidents in eleven months of this year declined by 8.5% (number of traffic accidents of differently serious levels reduced by 2.5%; number of traffic collisions decreased by 14.1%); number of death fell by 1.4%; number of injuries went up by 1% and number of minor injuries moved down by 20.2%. On average, 50 traffic accidents occurred nationwide a day in eleven months, including 26 traffic accidents from less serious to become and 24 traffic collisions, causing 22 deaths and 14 injuries and 25 minor injuries.

d) Damages caused by natural disasters

Generally, in eleven months, natural disasters made 189 people dead and missing; 140 ones injured; over 1.9 thousand houses collapsed and swept away; 61.8 thousand houses damaged; over 175 thousand ha of paddy and crops damaged. The total loss caused by natural disasters in eleven months was estimated at about 9 trillion dongs.

e) Environment protection, fire and explosion prevention

Generally, in eleven months, 13391 cases of violating regulations of environment protection were found over the country, of which 12319 cases were treated with total fine of over 191 billion dongs.

Generally, in eleven months, in the whole country, there were 3753 fire and explosion cases, causing 97 deaths and 246 injuries, with an estimated damage of about 1638 billion dongs.

GENERAL STATISTICS OFFICE

[1] The cultivated winter rice area of the whole country in 2018 was estimated at 1683.3 thousand ha, a deline of 28.1 thousand ha compared with the same crop last year, of which the Northern localities gained 1104.2 thousand ha, a decrease of 29.8 thousand ha; the Southern locolities achieved 579.1 thousand ha, an increase of 1.7 thousand ha.

[2] In eleven months of 2017, the mining and quarrying reduced by 6.2% from the same period last year; the manufacturing increased by 13.8%; the electricity production and distribution went up by 9%; the water supply and waste treatment moved up by 7%.

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

[4] In eleven months of 2017, the number of newly established enterprises increased by 14.1% compared to the same period last year; the registered capital jumped up by 41.9%; the average registered capital per enterprise increased by 24.3%.

[5] The number of  enterprises temporarily suspended operation without registering or waiting for dissolution in eleven months of this year increased highly, one of reasons was that business registration offices over the country were reviewing, standardizing data, eliminating enterprises which have been no longer in operation for a long time.

[6] In which, in eleven months, trade deficit with South Korea was US$ 26.6 billion, a deline of 8.9% against the same period last year; the trade deficit with China was US$ 21.6 billion, a reduce of 1.5%; trade deficit with ASEAN was US$ 6.3 billion, a rise of 11.7%; trade surplus with the United States was US$ 31.9 billion, an increase of 8.1%; trade surplus with EU was US$ 25.6 billion, a growth of 6.3%.