As of August 15, 2023, 1,387.3 thousand hectares of winter rice had been cultivated, equaling 98.6% of the same period last year. In particular, provinces in the northern region had cultivated 1,001 thousand hectares, equaling 97.8% of the same period last year; the figure for the southern provinces reached 386.3 thousand hectares, equaling 100.5%.
As for summer-autumn rice, by mid-August, 1,071.6 thousand hectares of rice had been harvested, accounting for 56% of the cultivated area and equaling 96.6% of the same period last year. The summer-autumn rice yield is estimated at 57.5 quintals/ha, an increase of 0.9 quintals/ha compared to last year's summer-autumn crop; output is estimated at 11 million tons, up 157 thousand tons.
As of mid-August, farmers in the Mekong Delta had sown 391.4 thousand hectares of autumn-winter rice, equaling 103.2% of the same period last year.
For annual crops, as of mid-August 2023, 767.5 thousand hectares of maize had been planted, equaling 98.2% over the same period last year. Similarly, 71.6 thousand hectares of sweet potatoes had been planted, equaling 94.1%; 26.3 thousand hectares of soybeans, equaling 94%; 132.6 thousand hectares of peanuts, equaling 95%; 927.4 thousand hectares of vegetables and beans, equaling 100.5%.
In terms of breeding, the raising of buffaloes and cows in the month developed stably. Raising pigs and poultry ensured supply for the market. It is estimated that the total number of pigs in the Vietnam by the end of August 2023 increased by 3.3% compared to the same period in 2022; the total number of cows increased by 0.5%; the total number of buffalo decreased by 1.9%; total poultry increased by 2.3%.
Forestry production was at a disadvantage due to the rapid change in weather from hot to rainy weather, and landslides affecting the progress of new afforestation in many localities.
Generally, in the first eight months of 2023, the area of newly concentrated planted forest was estimated at 160.6 thousand hectares, down 1.2% over the same period last year. The number of scattered forest trees reached 58.5 million trees, up 4.8%. Timber production reached 12.4 million m3, up 2.9%. The area of damaged forest was 1,484.9 ha, an increase of 90%, of which the area of forest cut and destroyed was 857.6 ha, an increase of 13.3%; burnt forest area was 627.3 ha, 25.6 times higher due to prolonged hot weather.
Aquatic production in August 2023 was estimated at 837.4 thousand tons, up 2% over the same period last year, of which aquaculture production was estimated at 485.8 thousand tons, up 3.8%, and fishing output reached 351.6 thousand tons, down 0.5%.
Generally, for the first eight months of 2023, aquatic production was estimated at 5,931 thousand tons, up 1.9% over the same period last year. Specifically, fish reached 4,254.3 thousand tons, up 1.7%; shrimp reached 812.2 thousand tons, up 3.6%; other aquatic products reached 864.5 thousand tons, up 1.5%.
The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) in August 2023 was estimated to increase by 2.9% over the previous month and by 2.6% over the same period last year. In the first 8 months of 2023, IIP was estimated to decrease by 0.4% compared to the same period last year. To be more specific, the processing and manufacturing industry decreased by 0.6%, reducing 0.3 percentage points in the general increase; electricity production and distribution increased by 1.7%, contributing 0.2 percentage points; water supply industry, waste and wastewater management and treatment activities increased by 4.8%, contributing 0.1 percentage points; mining industry decreased by 2.5%, contributing minus 0.4 percentage points.
The number of employees working in industrial enterprises as of August 1, 2023 increased by 0.9% compared to the same period last month and decreased by 2.9% compared to the same period last year.
In August, there were more than 14,000 newly established enterprises, up 2.3% over the previous month and 17.9% over the same period last year. Besides, there were nearly 6.3 thousand enterprises returning to operation, down 10.9% over the previous month and down 3.1% over the same period in 2022. There were 5,178 enterprises registered to suspend their business, down 24.8% and up 37.9%; there were 5,216 enterprises shutting down and waiting for dissolution procedures, down 0.8% and up 17.1%; there were 1,375 enterprises completing dissolution procedures, down 13% and 29.6%.
Generally, in the first eight months of 2023, there were 149.4 thousand enterprises registered for new establishment and returning to operation, down 0.03% over the same period last year. On average, there were 18.7 thousand enterprises newly established and re-operated per month. The number of enterprises withdrawing from the market was 124.7 thousand enterprises, an increase of 15.6% over the same period last year, which means average of 15.6 thousand enterprises withdrew from the market a month.
Realized investment capital from the State budget in August was estimated at VND 61.3 trillion, up 29.1% over the same period last year. In the first eight months of 2023, investment capital realized from the State budget was estimated at VND 352.1 trillion, equaling 49.4% of the year plan and increasing by 23.1% over the same period last year.
Total foreign investment capital registered in Vietnam as of August 20, 2023 including newly registered capital, adjusted registered capital and capital contribution and share purchase by foreign investors was nearly USD 18.15 billion, up 8.2% over the same period last year.
The total realized foreign direct investment capital in Vietnam in the first eight months of 2023 was estimated at USD 13.1 billion, up 1.3% over the same period last year.
As for Vietnam's investment abroad in the first eight months of 2023, there were 79 projects that were granted new investment certificates with a total capital of USD 244.4 million from the Vietnamese side, down 29.1% over the same period last year.
Total retail sales of consumer goods and services in August was estimated at VND 515.4 trillion, up 0.9% from the previous month and up 7.6% over the same period last year. In the first eight months of 2023, the total retail sales of consumer goods and services at current prices was estimated at VND 4,043.9 trillion, an increase of 10% over the same period last year.
– Exports of goods
Export turnover of goods in August 2023 was estimated at USD 32.37 billion, up 7.7% over the previous month and down 7.6% over the same period last year. In the first 8 months of this year, export turnover of goods was estimated at USD 227.71 billion, down 10% over the same period last year.
Regarding the structure of goods export in the first 8 months of this year, the group of processed industrial products was estimated at USD 201.31 billion, accounting for 88.4%.
– Imports of goods
Import turnover of goods in August 2023 was estimated at USD 28.55 billion, up 5.7% over the previous month and down 8.3% over the same period last year. In the first eight months of 2023, the import turnover of goods was estimated at USD 207.52 billion, down 16.2% over the same period last year.
As for the structure of imported goods in the first eight months of 2023, the group of capital goods was estimated at USD 194.65 billion, accounting for 93.8%.
– Export and import market of goods: In the first eight months of 2023, the United States was Vietnam's largest export market with an estimated turnover of USD 62.3 billion, meanwhile China was Vietnam's largest import market with an estimated turnover of USD 68.1 billion.
– Trade balance: August was estimated to witness a trade surplus of USD 3.82 billion. In the first 8 months of 2023, the trade balance of goods is estimated to have a trade surplus of USD 20.19 billion. In which, the domestic economic sector had a trade deficit of USD 14.02 billion; FDI sector (including crude oil) had a trade surplus of USD 34.21 billion.
The consumer price index (CPI) in August 2023 increased by 0.88% compared to the previous month. Compared to December 2022, CPI in August increased by 2.02% and over the same period last year, it increased by 2.96%. On average, in the first 8 months of 2023, CPI increased by 3.1% over the same period last year; core inflation increased by 4.57%.
Gold price index in August 2023 increased by 0.64% compared to the previous month, by 3.93% compared to December 2022, and by 5% over the same period last year.
US dollar price index in August 2023 increased by 0.57% compared to the previous month; down 1.16% compared to December 2022; and increased by 1.43% over the same period last year.
Source: GSO
Compiled by VietnamCredit
