As of mid-February, 2,693.4 thousand hectares of winter-spring rice had been sown, equaling 100.5% of the same period last year. At the same time, 215.9 thousand hectares of maize had been planted, equaling 100.8% over the same period last year. The figures for peanuts, sweet potatoes, soybeans and vegetables are 75.5 thousand hectares, 36.7 thousand hectares, 5.8 thousand hectares, and 426.8 thousand hectares, respectively.
Livestock production in February developed stably. It is estimated that as of the end of February 2023, the total number of pigs increased by 8.6% compared to the same period in 2022; the total number of cows increased by 3.4%; the total number of buffaloes decreased by 1.4%; the total number of poultry increased by 3%.
Generally, in the first two months of 2023, the area of newly planted forest in Vietnam is estimated at 18.8 thousand hectares, up 4.8% over the same period last year; the number of scattered forest trees reached 17.0 million trees, up 7.4%; timber production reached 1,982.1 thousand m3, up 3.1%. The area of damaged forest was 97.7 ha, down 29.1%, of which burned forest area was nearly 6 ha, 3.6 times higher; the area of forest that was cut or destroyed was 91.7 ha, down 32.6%.
Fishery production in February 2023 was estimated at 593.4 thousand tons, up 2.5% over the same period last year. In particular, aquaculture production was estimated at 332.2 thousand tons, up 2.1%; fishing output reached 261.2 thousand tons, up 3%. Generally, in the first two months of 2023, fishery output was estimated at 1,185.5 thousand tons, up 1.3% over the same period last year.
The index of industrial production (IIP) in February 2023 was estimated to increase by 5.1% over the previous month and by 3.6% over the same period last year. In the first two months of 2023, IIP is estimated to decrease by 6.3% compared to the same period last year. Specifically, the mining industry decreased by 3.8%, reducing 0.6 percentage points in the overall increase; processing and manufacturing decreased by 6.9%, reducing by 5.3 percentage points; the electricity production and distribution industry decreased by 5.2%, reducing 0.5 percentage points; water supply, waste and wastewater management and treatment activities increased by 2.3%, contributing 0.1 percentage points.
As of February 1, 2023, the number of employees working in industrial enterprises increased by 0.5% over the same period last month and decreased by 1.1% over the same period last year.
In February, there were 8,841 newly established enterprises, down 18.5% over the previous month and up 21.4% over the same period last year. Besides, 3,927 enterprises returned to operation, down 73.9% over the previous month and 3.5% over the same period in 2022. There were 3,802 enterprises registered to suspend business for a definite time; there were 2,636 enterprises shutting down and waiting for dissolution procedures, down 61.5% and up 37.5%. Over 1,100 enterprises completed dissolution procedures, down
In the first two months of 2023, there were 37.9 thousand enterprises registered for new establishment and returning to operation, down 11.2% over the same period last year. On average, nearly 19,000 businesses were newly established and re-operated per month. The number of enterprises withdrawing from the market was 51.4 thousand enterprises, an increase of 14.5%, which means there were 25.7 thousand enterprises withdrawing from the market every month.
Realized investment capital from the State budget in February was estimated at nearly VND 30 trillion, up 36.9% over the same period last year. Generally, for the first two months of 2023, investment capital realized from the State budget is estimated at VND 56.9 trillion, equaling 8.3% of the year plan and increasing by 18.3% over the same period last year.
As of February 20, 2023, total foreign investment capital registered in Vietnam, including newly registered capital, adjusted registered capital and capital contribution and share purchase by foreign investors reached USD 3.1 billion, down 38% over the same period last year.
Realized foreign direct investment capital in Vietnam in the first two months of 2023 was estimated at USD 2.55 billion, down 4.9% over the same period last year.
Regarding Vietnam's investment abroad in the first two months of 2023, there were 10 projects that were newly granted investment certificates with a total capital of USD 109.4 million from Vietnamese investors. In general, Vietnam's total investment abroad (newly and adjusted capital) reached USD 115.1 million, 2.6 times higher than the same period last year.
Total retail sales of consumer goods and services in February was estimated at VND 481.8 trillion, down 6% from the previous month and up 13.2% over the same period last year. Generally, in the first two months of 2023, the total retail sales of consumer goods and services is estimated at VND 994.2 trillion, up 13% over the same period last year.
Total retail sales of consumer goods and services in the first two months of 2023 increased by 24.9% compared to the first two months of 2019 - the year before the Covid-19 epidemic.
– Exports of goods
Total export turnover of goods in February 2023 was estimated at USD 25.88 billion, up 9.8% over the previous month and 11% over the same period last year. Generally, in the first two months of 2023, export turnover of goods was estimated at 49.44 billion USD, down 10.4% over the same period last year.
Regarding the structure of goods export in the first two months of 2023, the group of processed industrial products accounted for 89.8%.
– Imports of goods
Total import turnover of goods in February 2023 was estimated at USD 23.58 billion, up 2.3% over the previous month and down 6.7% over the same period last year. Generally, in the first two months of 2023, import turnover of goods was estimated at 46.62 billion USD, down 16% over the same period last year.
As for the structure of goods import in the first two months of 2023, capital goods accounted for 93.6%.
– Export and import market of goods: in the first two months of 2023, the United States is Vietnam's largest export market with an estimated turnover of USD 13.1 billion. China is Vietnam's largest import market with an estimated turnover of USD 14.6 billion.
– Trade balance: generally, in the first two months of 2023, the trade balance of goods is estimated to have a trade surplus of USD 2.82 billion (the same period last year, there was a trade deficit of USD 0.3 billion).
The consumer price index (CPI) in February 2023 increased by 0.45% compared to the previous month. Compared to December 2022, February’s CPI increased by 0.97%; over the same period last year, it increased by 4.31%. On average, in the first two months of 2023, CPI increased by 4.6% over the same period in 2022. Core inflation increased by 5.08%, higher than the average CPI.
Gold price index in February 2023 increased by 0.92% compared to the previous month and by 2.62% over the same period last year. On average, in the first two months of 2023, the domestic gold price index increased by 3.1% over the same period last year.
US dollar price index in February 2023 increased by 0.2% compared to the previous month and 3.67% over the same period last year due to supply was guaranteed. On average, in the first two months of 2023, the domestic US dollar price index increased by 3.42% over the same period last year.
Source: GSO
Compiled by VietnamCredit
