1. Agriculture, forestry and fishery
Agricultural production in the month focused on tending and harvesting winter and winter-autumn paddy in the country and and planting winter crops in the North. However, unfavorable weather conditions cause flooding, making many areas of rice and crops lost or unable to sow; many cattle and poultry died and were swept away.
a) Agriculture
Total area of winter paddy cultivation was 1,585.2 thousand hectares, an equal to 98.4%, in comparison with that of over the same period last year. As of mid-October, the country harvested 990.7 thousand hectares of winter paddy, made up 62.5% of the total cultivated area and equaled to 97.2%, in comparison with that of over the same period last year, this year’s winter rice yield reached 50.7 quintals/ha, an increase of 0.3 quintals/ha over the previous year, the production was estimated at 8.04 million tons, down by 59.5 thousand tons from the previous crop.
Along with tending and harvesting winter paddy, localities across the country basically finished the summer-autumn rice production with the cultivated area reaching 1,944.8 thousand hectares, down by 64.8 thousand hectares compared to the summer-autumn crop in 2019. As of mid-October, the country harvested 1,920.4 thousand hectares of summer-autumn paddy, an equal to 96.5% in comparison with that of over the same period last year, yield was estimated at 55.7 quintal/hectare, an increase of 0.9 quintal/hectare, production reached 10.83 million tons, a drop of 119.3 thousand tons.
As of mid-October, localities in Mekong River Delta cultivated 684.9 thousand hectares of autumn-winter paddy, an equal to 95.9%, in comparison with that of over the same period last year. So far, the region harvested 283.7 thousand hectares of winter-autumn paddy, made up 41.4% of total cultivated area and equaled to 103.2% in comparison with that of over the same period last year, the total yield was estimated at 52.2 quintals/hectare, an increase of 0.4 quintals/hectare, in comparison with that of over the winter-autumn crop last year.
As of October 15, 2020, the country cultivated 66.5 thousand hectares of maize, an equal to 91.5% compared with that of over the same period last year; sweet potatoes reached 10.8 thousand hectares, an equal to 92.3%; soybean recorded 2.5 thousand hectares, an equal to 59.5%; groundnut reached 4 thousand hectares, an equal to 83.3%; vegetables and beans reached 78.9 thousand hectares, an equal to the same period.
Pig breeding is gradually restored, the total number of pigs in the month increases by 7.6% over the same period last year, cattle’s increased by 2.5%; poultry increased by 4.3%, buffalo population decrease by 2%. As of October 25, 2020, some types of epidemics have not lasted for 21 days in localities: blue ear disease was still in Ha Nam; avian flu remained in Thai Binh; foot-and-mouth disease was still in Quang Nam, Kon Tum; African swine fever was reported in 377 communes of 31 provinces and central cities.
b) Forestry
In October, the concentrated forests area was estimated at 28.6 thousand hectares, falling by 3.1% compared to that of over the same period last year. Generally in 10 months, the concentrated forests area was estimated at 198.1 thousand hectares, decreasing by 2.7% of over same period last year; number of dispersed trees reached 79.2 million, falling by 1.2%; production of wood reached 13.5 million m3, increase of 1.4%. Firewood production reached 15.8 million ste, falling by 0.5%.
Area of devastated forest in October reached 66.1 hectares, falling by 45.6% to that of over the same period last year, of which fired forest area reached 7.3 hectares, falling by 90.9%; cut and devastated forest area was recorded 58.8 hectares, rasing by 42.4%. Generally, in ten months this year, the devastated forest area was 1,357.1 hectares, decreasing by 59.7% of over the same period last year, of which the fired forest area, was 611 hectares, falling by 78.6%; area of cut and destroyed forest was 746.1 hectares, rising by 44.9%.
c) Fishery
Fishery production in October of 2020 was estimated at 786.9 thousand tons, falling by 1.1% of over the same period last year, of which production of aquaculture was estimated at 476.1 thousand tons, falling by 1.6%; production of aquatic products caught was estimated at 310.8 thousand tons, down 0.3%
Generally, in 10 months of 2020, aquaculture production was estimated to reach 6,914.6 thousand tons, an increase of 1.3% over the same period last year, of which aquaculture production reached 3,690.2 thousand tons, an increase of 0, 9%; capture fisheries output reached 3,224.4 thousand tons, an increase of 1.7% (marine production reached 3,067.2 thousand tons, up 1.8%).
2. Industrial production
With the covid-19 pandemic is under good control, sectors of the economy are entering a state of operation under new normal conditions, industrial production in October 2020 continues to flourish[1], especially the manufacturing with an increase of 8.3% over the same period last year.
The index of industrial production (IIP) in October 2020 was estimated to increase by 3.6% over the previous month and by 5.4% over the same period last year, of which the IIP of the mining and quarrying sharply decreased by 14.5%; the manufacturing, the production and distribution of electricity, the water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities increased by 8.3%, 1%, and 9.9%, respectively.
Generally for 10 months of 2020, the IIP was estimated to increase by 2.7% over the same period last year, which was lower than the increase of 9.5% in the same period of 2019. Of which, the manufacturing showed an increases of 2.5% in the IIP (the same period of 2019 was 10,8%), contributing 3.6 percentage points to the general growth; the IIP of the production and distribution of electricity, the water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities increased by 3.2% and 4.1%, which contributing 0.3 percentage points, and 0.1 percentage points, respectively. Only the mining and quarrying saw a decrease by 8.1%, making the overall IIP decreased by 1.3 percentage point.
3. Enterprise registration status[2]
The number of newly established enterprises in October 2020 increase of 18.4% compared to September 2020, the number of re-operated enterprises rose up 10.4%. In 10 months of 2020, the total number of newly established enterprises had nearly 111.2 thousand enterprises, decrease of 2.9% compared to the same period in last year; the average registered capital of a newly established enterprise reached 14.3 billion VND, rose by 14.4%.
In October 2020, the whole country had 12.2 thousand newly established enterprises with a registered capital of 165.6 trillion VND and the total number of registered employees of 72.4 thousand employees, a increase of 18.4% in the number of enterprises, a decrease of 18.5% in the registered capital and a decrease of 12.7% in the number of employees compared to last month. The average registered capital of an enterprise reached 13.6 billion VND, reduced 31.2% compared to last month and rose by 15.1% compared to the same period in 2019. In the month, there were 5,044 re-operated enterprises in the whole country, a increase of 10.4% compared to the previous month and decrease of 30.4% compared to the same period in 2019; 3,293 enterprises ceased for a certain period of time, rose up 0.7% and 57.9%; 3,579 enterprises temporarily ceased and awaited dissolution procedures, an fall of 12.6% and 28.6%; 1,413 enterprises completed dissolution procedures, fall of 18.6% and rose up 0.2%.
Generally, in 10 months of this year, the whole country had nearly 111.2 thousand newly registered enterprises with a total registered capital of 1,594.1 trillion VND and the total number of registered employees of 850.3 thousand employees, a cut down of 2.9% in the number of enterprises, an increase of 11.1% in number the registered capital and a decrease of 17% in the number of employees compared to the same period in last year. The average registered capital of a newly established enterprise in 10 months achieved 14.3 billion VND, climbing up 14.4% compared to the same period in last year. If including 2,298 trillion VND of the additionally registered capital of 32.6 thousand enterprises that recorded upward adjustment of capital, the total additional registered capital in the economy in 10 months of this year was 3,892.1 trillion VND, rose by 17 compared to the same period in last year. In addition, there were 37.7 thousand re-operated enterprises, an increase of 8.2% over the same period last year, bringing the total number of newly registered enterprises and re-operated enterprises in 10 months to 148.9 thousand enterprises, decrease of 0.3%. The average every month, 14.9 thousand newly established enterprises and re-operated enterprises.
The number of enterprises ceased for a certain period of time in 10 months this year was 41.8 thousand enterprises, increasing by 58.7% compared to the same period last year; nearly 30.3 thousand enterprises temporarily ceased and awaited dissolution procedures, a decline of 12.4%; 13,5 thousand enterprises completed dissolution procedures, an increase of 0.1%. The average every month, 8.6 thousand enterprises withdrawing from the market.
4. Investment
Ministries, branches and localities are making efforts to focus on implementing solutions to speed up the disbursement of public investment capital, however, the stormy situation in the central region in October has affected the implementation progress of projects. The investment capital of the State budget in October compared to plan for 2020 was 10.25%, negligible increase from the rate of 10.15% in September. The growth rate of investment capital of the State budget in October and 10 months of year 2020 both reached the highest increase in the years 2016 – 2020[3].
Investment capital from the State budget in October was estimated at 52 trillion VND, up 42.2% over the same period last year, including: Central capital 10.3 trillion VND, up 61.9%; local capital 41.7 trillion VND, up 38%. Generally, in 10 months of this year, realized investment capital from the state budget reached 354.6 trillion VND, equaling 69.8% of the year plan and up 34.4% against the same period last year (the same period last year 2019 equals 68.8% and increases by 6.7%), including: The capital under central management was 62.1 trillion VND, equaling 67.7% of the yearly plan and increasing 67.8% against the same period last year; The capital under local management reached 292.5 trillion VND, equaling 70.3% and climbing up 29%.
The foreign direct investment from the beginning of the year to 20th October, 2020 including registered capital, adjust investment capital and total value of capital contribution reached 23.5 billion USD, decrease 19.4% compared to the same period in 2019. Of which, 2,100 newly licensed projects with a registered capital of 11.7 billion USD, an decrease of 32.1% in the number of projects and a decrease of 9.1% of registered capital as compared to the same period in 2019; 907 turns of projects which were licensed in the previous years registered to adjust investment capital with the additional capital of 5.7 billion USD, a growth of 4.4% over the same period last year; 5,451 turns of capital contribution and share purchases of foreign investors with a total value of capital contribution of 6.1 billion USD, a drop of 43.5% over the same period in 2019, including 1,392 turns of capital contribution capital, share purchase increased charter capital of the enterprise with the value of contributed capital of 2.5 billion USD and 4,059 turns of foreign investors repurchased domestic shares without increasing the charter capital with a value of 3.6 billion USD. Foreign direct investment capital that implemented in 10 months reached 15.8 billion USD, a drop of 2.5% over the same period last year.
Vietnam’s outward investment in the 10 months of this year had 107 projects which were granted investment certificates with a total capital of 314.5 million USD; 28 capital adjusted projects with an additional capital of 163.8 million USD. Generally, the total outward investment of Vietnam (newly granted and supplementary capital) in 10 months of 2020 reached 478.3 million USD, a growth of 16.1% over the previous year.
5. Trade, transport and tourism operation
Although the Covid-19 epidemic is increasingly complicated in the world, Vietnam’s goods import and export activities continue to maintain a positive increase. In October 2020, domestic trade continued its uptrend with gross retail sales of consumer goods and services increased by 2.4% over the previous month and by 6.1% over the same period last year; transport activities increased 2.9% in volume of passengers carried and 3.7% in volume of freight carried; international visitors to Viet Nam increased 7.6% compared to the previous month but still decreased 99,1% compared to the same period last year because international tourism has not yet opened.
Gross retail sales of consumer goods and services in October were estimated at 450.8 trillion VND, up 2.4% over that in the previous month and up 6.1% over that in the same period last year. Generally for ten months, gross retail sales of consumer goods and services reached 4,123 trillion VND, rising by 1.3% over that in the same period last year, if excluding the price factor, the decrease was 3% (that in the same period in 2019 increased by 9.7%).
Export turnover in September 2020 reached 27,163 million USD, 337 million USD lower than estimated figure. Export turnover in October 2020 was estimated at 26.7 billion USD, reduced by 1.7% over the previous month and increased by 9.9% compared to the same period last year. Generally for ten months in 2020, the export turnover was estimated at 229.27 billion USD, rose by 4.7% over the same period in 2019. In 10 months of 2020, there were 31 products with export turnover of over 1 billion USD, contributing 91.8% to the total export turnover (of which 5 products with export turnover of over 10 billion USD, accounting for 59.9%).
Regarding the structure of export commodity groups in 10 months of 2020, the group of heavy industry products and minerals was estimated at 123.8 billion USD, went up by 8.4% over the same period last year. The group of light industry and handicraft products was estimated at 81.8 billion USD, jumped up by 1.5%. Agricultural and forestry products reached 16.8 billion USD, went down by 1.5%. The group of fishery products reached 6.9 billion USD, edged down by 2.5%.
Regarding the export commodity market in 10 months of 2020, the United States was Vietnam’s largest export market with a turnover of 62.3 billion USD, a growth of 24% over the same period last year; the following was China market with 37.6 billion USD, going up by 14%; The EU with 28.9 billion USD, declining by 3%; ASEAN market with 18.9 billion USD, an decrease of 11.6%; South Korea with 16.3 billion USD, an decrease of 2.6%; Japan with 15.6 billion USD, declining by 7%.
Import turnover of goods in September reached 24,204 million USD, 204 million USD higher than the estimated figure. Import turnover in October 2020 was estimated at 24.5 billion USD, expanded by 1.2% over the previous month and increased by 10.1% compared to the same period in 2019. Generally for ten months of 2020, the import turnover was estimated at 210.55 billion USD, decreased by 0.4% over the same period in 2019. In 10 months, there were 34 imported products with turnover of over 1 billion USD, accounting for 89.4% of total import turnover.
Regarding the structure of imported goods in 10 months of 2020, the group of input materials was estimated at 194.93 billion USD, went down by 0.02% over the same period last year. Consumer goods group was estimated at 15.62 billion USD, expanding by 6.5%.
Regarding imported goods market in 10 months of this year, China remained the largest import market of Vietnam with a turnover of 65.8 billion USD, jumped up by 6.2% over the same period last year; the following was the Korean market with 37.4 billion USD, reduced by 5.3%; ASEAN market with 24.4 billion USD, declining by 8.5%; Japan with 16.5 billion USD, going up by 2.5%; EU market with 11.8 billion USD, expanding by 4.2%; The United States with 11.6 billion USD, decrease of 2.4%.
The trade balance of goods in September witnessed a trade surplus of 3 billion USD[4]; trade surplus for 9 months was 16.52 billion USD; trade surplus in October was estimated at 2.2 billion USD. Generally, in ten months of 2020, trade surplus was estimated a record at 18.72 billion USD[5].
Passengers carried in October was estimated 283.7 million persons, going up 2.9% compared to the previous month and passengers traffic 12.4 billion passengers-km, rising by 7.6%. Generally for ten months, passengers carried reached 2,916.7 million passengers, a decrease of 29.7% over the same period last year (it increased by 10.6% in the same period in 2019) and passengers traffic gained 132.1 billion passengers-km, a decline of 35.4% (the similar period last year recorded a growth rate of 10.4%). Freight carried in October was estimated at 164 million tons, going up 3.7% and freight traffic 30.1 billion tons.km, rising 4% compared to the previous month. Generally for ten months, freight carried reached 1,429.9 million tons, down 7.5% against the similar period last year (it moved up by 9.3% in the same period in 2019) and freight traffic gained 273.7 billion tons-km, down 8.8% (the identical period last year witnessed a 7.4% growth).
International visitors to Viet Nam in October were estimated at 14.8 thousands, going up 7.6% compared to the previous month and decreased 99,1% compared to the same period last year. Generally for ten months, international visitors to Viet Nam was estimated at 3,803.3 thousand, moving down by 73.8% compared to the same period last year.
6. Consumer price index, gold price index and US dollar price index
Consumer price index in October, 2020 increased by 0.09% over the previous month and over December last year – all of them were the lowest level in the period of 2016-2020, mainly due to the price of education service prices were adjusted to increase in line with the roadmap to approach market prices and influence of storms and floods in the central provinces. The average consumer price index of 10 months of 2020 increased by 3.71% over the same period last year.
CPI of October 2020 increased by 0.09% compared to the previous month; by 0.09% over December 2019 and by 2.47% over the same period last year; average CPI of 10 months in 2020 increased by 3.71% compared to the same period in 2019.
Core inflation in October 2020 increased by 0.07% over the previous month and increased by 1.88% over the same period last year. Average core inflation of 10 months of 2020 grew by 2.52% compared to the same period of 2019.
Domestic gold prices fluctuated according to the world gold prices. The world gold price fluctuated erratically due to many mixed information flows before the US presidential election and the Covid-19 epidemic in the world was still complicated. Domestically, gold price index in October 2020 decreased by 1.1% over the previous month; an increase of 30.91% compared to December 2019; increased by 29.63% over the same period last year. The US dollar price index in October 2020 increased by 0.07% over the previous month; went up by 0.19% compared to December 2019 and dropped by 0.13% over the same period of 2019.
7. Social issues
a) Living standards and social security
In the 10 months of 2020, the whole country had 16.5 thousand households suffering from food shortage, fell by 75.7% over the same period last year, corresponding to 66.5 thousand persons suffering from food shortage, dropped 75.9%. 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 733.6 tons of rice.
There were 11,653 traffic accidents in the whole country in 10 months of 2020, including 6,717 traffic accidents of less serious or more and 4,936 traffic collisions, making 5,456 deaths, 3,523 injuries and 5,107 persons slightly injured. Compared to the same period last year, the number of traffic accidents in 10 months of this year decreased by 18.2% (the number of traffic accidents from less serious or more decreased by 10.9%; the number of traffic collisions decreased by 26.4%); the number of deaths decreased by 13.6%; the number of injured people decreased by 14.3% and the number of minor injuries fell by 24,5%. On average, in 10 months, the whole country had 38 traffic accidents a day, including 22 traffic accidents of less serious or more and 16 traffic collisions, causing 18 deaths and 12 injuries and 17 people were slightly injured.
Natural disasters occurred in October 2020 were mainly storms, heavy rains, flash floods, floods, tornadoes and landslides in some localities, causing 153 dead and missing, 222 injuries; 111.9 thousand houses were unroofed, flooded and damaged; 3 thousand cattle and 600.5 thousand poultry died; 45 thousand hectares of rice and 22.3 thousand hectares of crops were damaged. According to preliminary reports from localities, the total lost caused by natural disasters in the month was estimated at 2,7 trillion VND. Particularly, floods in the central provinces made 129 dead and missing, 214 injuries; 111.2 thousand houses collapsed, swept away, flooded and damaged; more than 1 thousand hectares of rice and 7.2 thousand hectares of crops were flooded and damaged; estimated damage to property was VND 2.3 trillion, accounting for 83.8% of the total value. Of which, Quang Tri, Thua Thien – Hue and Quang Binh suffered heavy losses with 106 dead, missing and 133 injured; 95.3 thousand houses collapsed, swept away, flooded and damaged, 2.4 thousand cattle and 573.2 thousand poultry died, the damage to property was estimated at over 1.4 trillion dong.
Generally for 10 months, natural disasters caused 249 people died and missed, 516 injured; 1,940 houses collapsed, swept away; 212,7 thousand houses unroofed and damaged; 187.8 thousand hectares of rice and nearly 90 thousand hectares of crops damaged. The total lost caused by natural disasters in 10 months was estimated at 10.1 trillion VND, of which due to storms was 3.5 trillion VND.
The Covid-19 epidemic continues to develop complicatedly in many countries[6], the 5 countries with the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the world are the United State, India, Brazil, Russia and France. In Viet Nam, as of 6:00 pm on October 28th, 2020, Vietnam has 1,172 cases have been reported, 1,066 cases have been cured (35 deaths), within 56 days Viet Nam has not recorded new cases of Covid- 19 in the community.
GENERAL STATISTICS OFFICE
[1] IIP of Aug/2020, Sep/2020 and Oct/2020 increased by 3.5%; 2.3%; 3,6% accordingly.
[2]Source: National Enterprise Registration Information System, Business Registration Management Agency, Ministry of Planning and Investment.
[3] The growth of investment capital of State budget in October over the same period of previous last year of 2016-2020 was respectively: 20.5%; 10.7%; 16.9%; 8.8%; 42.2%. The growth of investment capital of State budget in 10 months over the same period of previous last year of 2016-2020 was respectively: 14%; 7.1%; 12.1%; 6.7%; 34.4%.
[4] Trade surplus in September was estimated at 3.5 billion USD.
[5] Of which, in 10 months of 2020, trade surplus to the EU reached 17.1 billion USD, went down by 7.4% compared to the same period last year; trade deficit from China was 28.2 billion USD, declined by 2.7%; trade deficit from South Korea was 21.1 billion USD, declined by 7.3%; trade deficit from ASEAN was 5.5 billion USD, grew by 4.1%.
[6] As of 6:00 pm on Octorber 28th, 2020, in the world, there were 44,218.6 thousand cases of Covid-19 (1,171.1 thousand deaths).