1. Agriculture, forestry and fishery
The production of agriculture, forestry and fisheries in February 2021 took place in relatively favorable weather conditions. Breeding developed well and provided enough livestock products during the Tan Suu Lunar New Year. African swine fever has been controlled; pigs continue to recover. The afforestation of the spring crop and the early spring “Tet” took place in many localities. Fishery production developed stably; shrimp kept high price due to the demand of the processing industry; Marine mining restarted after the Lunar New Year holiday.
a) Agriculture
As of the middle of February, the country cultivated 2,606.1 thousand hectares of winter-spring paddy, an equal to 95.9% compared to the same period last year, of which Northern provinces reached 710.5 thousand hectares, an equal to 88.2%; Southern provinces reached 1,895.6 thousand hectares, equaled to 99.1%, particularly the Mekong River Delta reached 1,511.5 thousand hectares, equaled to 98%.
As of mid-February, localities in the country planted 207.7 thousand hectares of maize, equaled to 97.2% compared with the same period last year; 43.3 thousand hectares of sweet potatoes, an equal to 100.2%; 5.3 thousand hectares of soybean, an equal to 71.6%; 68.8 thousand hectares of groundnut, equaled to 92.2%; 419.6 thousand hectares of vegetables, equaled to 98.5%.
Buffaloes and cattle’s husbandry in the month generally witnessed stability; African swine fever continues to be controlled, only arising small outbreaks. Poultry breeding is well developed. Estimated in February, the buffalo population in the country decreased by 2.7% compared with the same period last year; cattle’s population increased by 2.2%; poultry population increased by 6.5%; pig population increased by 15.5%. As of February 20, 2021, the country no longer had blue ear disease; avian flu is still in 12 localities; foot-and-mouth disease remains in 7 localities.; African swine fever has remained in 21 localities for less than 21 days.
b) Forestry
In the month, Concentrated newly planted forest area of the whole country was estimated at 8.9 thousand hectares, down 1.1% from the same period last year. Generally, in the first 2 months this year, the concentrated newly planted forest area was estimated at 15.8 thousand ha, down 1.9% against the same period last year; the number of scattered planted trees reached 10.7 million trees, an increase of 4.9%; the exploited wood output reached 1.85 million m3, an increase of 3.5%; the exploited and collected firewood output reached 2.73 million ste, down 1.1%.
Damaged forest area[1] in February (from January 15 to February 15, 2021) was 73.20 hectares. Generally, in the first 2 months of the year, the whole country had 200.8 ha of forest damaged, an increase of 3.5% over the same period last year, of which the burnt forest area was 82.9 ha, a decrease of 9.9% (92 ha in the same period last year); deforested forest area was 117.9 ha, up 15.6%.
c) Fishery
Forestry production in February was estimated at 573.8 thousand tons, up 0.5% over the same period last year, including aquaculture production with 296.4 thousand tons, up 2.3%; catching fishery production with 277.4 thousand tons, down 1.4%. Generally for the first 2 months of 2021, estimated fishery production reached 1,141.4 thousand tons, up 1.5% over the same period last year, including aquaculture production reached 600.5 thousand tons, an increase of 2.5%; catching fishery production reached 540.9 thousand tons, up 0.5% (sea fishing production reached 512.7 thousand tons, up 0.5%).
2. Industrial production
Industrial production in February 2021 is estimated to decrease over the previous month and the same period last year due to the number of working days of February this year was less than 8 days[2] and the effects of Covid-19 pandemic in some provinces. However, industrial production in January 2021 increased significantly compared to January 2020 (up by 22.5%), so for the first 2 months of 2021, the index of industrial production of the whole industry increased by 7.4% compared to the same period last year.
The index of industrial production (IIP) in February 2021 is estimated to decrease by 21.1% from the previous month and to decrease by 7.2% from the same period last year, of which the mining industry fell by 18.5% and 23% reduction; processing and manufacturing decreased 23.1% and 5.8%; electricity production and distribution went down by 9.8% and 2.3%; water supply, waste and wastewater management and treatment dropped by 8.7% and increased by 0.1%.
Overall for the first 2 months of 2021, the IIP is estimated to increase by 7.4% over the same period last year. In which, the manufacturing rosed by 10.4% (increased by 7.1% in the same period last year), contributing 8 percentage points to the general growth; electricity production and distribution went up by 4.3% (same period last year rose 7%), contributed 0.7 percentage points; water supply, waste and wastewater management and treatment by peaked up by 4.8% (increased by 4.6% in the same period last year), contributing 0.4 percentage points; the mining industry alone shrank by 11% (decreased by 2.7% in the same period last year), down by 1.7 percentage points in the general growth rate.
3. Enterprise registration status[3]
The number of newly established enterprises in February 2021 decrease compared to last month and the same period in 2020, because February coincided with the Lunar New Year. However, the registered capital in February 2021 climbing up 15.9% compared to last month and an increase of 85.6% compared to the same period in last year; enterprises ceased for a certain period of time, a decrease of 80.1% and 21.3%; temporarily ceased and awaited dissolution procedures, a decrease of 53.5% and 32.2%. These are very positive signals in the context that the Covid-19 epidemic still has many complicated developments, affecting the production and business activities of enterprises.
In February 2021, the whole country had 8,038 newly established enterprises with registered capital was 179.7 trillion VND and a total number of registered employees of 56,9 thousand employees, a decrease of 20.3% in the number of enterprises, an increase of 15.9% in the registered capital and a decrease of 50.9% in the number of employees compared to last month. The average registered capital of an enterprise reached 22.4 billion VND, an increase of 45.5% compared to last month, and rose by 111.6% compared to the same period in 2020. In the month, there were 4,604 re-operated enterprises in the whole country, a decrease of 29.2% compared to the previous month and rose by 26.8% compared to the same period in 2020; 3,593 enterprises ceased for a certain period of time, a decrease of 80.1% and 21.3%; 2,606 enterprises temporarily ceased and awaited dissolution procedures, a decrease of 53.5% and 32.2%; 1,500 enterprises completed dissolution procedures, a decrease of 28.4% and increase of 26.5%
Generally, in 2 months of this year, the whole country had nearly 18.1 thousand newly registered enterprises with a total registered capital of 334.8 trillion VND and a total number of registered employees of 172.8 thousand employees, up of 4% in the number of enterprises, an increase of 52.2% in number the registered capital and an increase of 9.7% in the number of employees compared to the same period in last year. The average registered capital of a newly established enterprise in 2 months achieved 18.5 billion VND, climbing up 46.4% compared to the same period last year. If including 385.6 trillion VND of the additionally registered capital of 6.5 thousand enterprises that recorded an upward adjustment of capital, the total additional registered capital in the economy in 2 months of this year was 720.4 trillion VND. Besides, there were more than 11 thousand re-operated enterprises, a decrease of 7.6% over the same period last year, bringing the total number of newly registered enterprises and re-operated enterprises in 2 months to 29.2 thousand enterprises, the average every month, 14.6 thousand newly established enterprises and re-operated enterprises.
In 2 months this year, there were 33.6 thousand enterprises ceased for a certain period of time, temporarily ceased and awaited dissolution procedures, and completed dissolution procedures, an increase of 18.6% over the same period last year, including: The number of enterprises ceased for a certain period of time was 21.6 thousand enterprises, increasing by 34% compared to the same period last year; 8.4 thousand enterprises temporarily ceased and awaited dissolution procedures, a decline of 10.7%; 3,6 thousand enterprises completed dissolution procedures, an increase of 28.1%, on average, 16.8 thousand enterprises withdrawing from the market each month.
4. Investment
The Lunar New Year holiday was in February in 2021 and the Covid-19 epidemic outbreak in some provinces and cities directly under the Central Government, so the progress of projects and works were slowed down. At the same time, investors and contractors mainly focus on implementing transitional projects, so the rate of investment capital implemented from the State budget in the first 2 months of the year compared to the plan was not high, equal to 9%.
Investment capital from the State budget in February was estimated at 17.7 trillion VND, decreasing by 3.1% over the same period last year. Generally, in the first 2 months of this year, realized investment capital from the state budget reached 40.9 trillion VND, equaling 9% of the year plan and up 10.6% against the same period last year (the same period last year 2020 equals 7.2% and increases by 17.9%), including the capital under central management was 5.6 trillion VND, equaling 7.2% of the yearly plan and increasing 13.6% against the same period last year; the capital under local management reached 35.3 trillion VND, equaling 9.4% of the yearly plan and climbing up 10.1% over the same period in 2020.
The foreign direct investment from the beginning of the year to 20th November 2021 including registered capital, adjust investment capital and the total value of capital contribution reached 5.46 billion USD, decreased by 15.6% compared to the same period in 2020. Of which, 126 newly licensed projects with a registered capital of 3.31 billion USD, a decrease of 74.8% in the number of projects and a decrease of 33.9% of registered capital as compared to the same period last year; 115 turns of licensed projects in the previous years registered to adjust investment capital with the additional capital of 1.61 billion USD, a growth of 151.8%; 445 turns of capital contribution and share purchases of foreign investors with a total value of the capital contribution of 543.1 million USD, a drop of 34.4%, including 109 turns of capital contribution capital, share purchase increased charter capital of the enterprise with the value of contributed capital of 202.8 million USD and 336 turns of foreign investors repurchased domestic shares without increasing the charter capital with a value of 340.3 million USD. Foreign direct investment capital that implemented in 2 months reached 2.5 billion USD, a growth of 2% over the same period last year.
Vietnam’s outward investment in the 2 months of this year had 5 projects which were granted investment certificates with a total capital of 21.6 million USD; a drop of 28.6% over the previous year.
5. Trade, transportation and tourism[4]
Domestic trade, transport and tourism activities decreased over the previous month due to the Lunar New Year holiday and the Covid-19 pandemic. Imports and exports of goods in Viet Nam for the first two months of this year reached a high rate. Total import-export turnover in two months was estimated at 95.81 billion USD, rose by 24.5% over the same period last year, of which exports turnover reached 48.55 billion USD, increased by 23.2%; imports reached 47.26 billion USD, increased by 25.9%[5]. The trade balance in two months was estimated at 1.29 billion USD of trade surplus.
Gross retail sales of consumer goods and services in February were estimated at 439.7 trillion VND, down 5.4% over that in the previous month and up 8.2% over that in the same period last year. Generally, for the two first months of 2021, gross retail sales of consumer goods and services reached 904.5 trillion VND, up 5.49% over the same period last year, if excluding the price factor, the increase was 5.52% (in the same period last year increased by 5.4%).
Export turnover in January 2021 reached 28,546 million USD, 846 million USD higher than the estimated figure. Export turnover in February 2021 was estimated at 20 billion USD, decreased by 29.9% over the previous month, and by 4.7% compared to the same period last year. Generally, for 2 months of 2021, the export turnover was estimated at 48.55 billion USD, rose by 23.2% over the same period in 2020, of which, the domestic economic sector was 11.48 billion USD, went up by 4.4%, accounting for 23.6% of total export turnover; the FDI sector (including crude oil) attained 37.07 billion USD, increased by 30.5%, sharing 76.4%. In 2 months of 2021, there were 9 products with export turnover of over 1 billion USD, contributing 73.8% to the total export turnover.
Regarding the structure of export commodity groups in 2 months of 2021, the group of heavy industry products and minerals was estimated at 26.6 billion USD, went up by 27.8% over the same period last year. The group of light industry and handicraft products was estimated at 17.3 billion USD, jumped up by 18.6%. Agricultural and forestry products reached 3.6 billion USD, went up by 22.2%. The group of fishery products reached 1 billion USD, edged up by 0.7%.
Regarding the export commodity market, the United States was Vietnam’s largest export market with a turnover of 14.2 billion USD, a growth of 38.2% over the same period last year; the following was China market with 8.5 billion USD, going up by 54.3%; The EU with 6.3 billion USD, rose by 22.7%; ASEAN market with 4.2 billion USD, an increase of 6.2%; South Korea with 3.4 billion USD, an increase of 16.8%; Japan with 3.2 billion USD, increased by 3%.
Import turnover of goods in January 2021 reached 26,459 million USD, 59 million USD higher than the estimated figure. Import turnover in February 2021 was estimated at 20.8 billion USD, reduced by 21.4% over the previous month. Generally, for 2 months of 2021, the import turnover was estimated at 47.26 billion USD, increased by 25.9% over the same period in 2020, of which the domestic economic sector reached 15.62 billion USD, went up by 16%; the FDI sector gained 31.64 billion USD, edged up by 31.4%. In 2 months of 2021, there were 11 imported products with a turnover of over 1 billion USD, accounting for 67.6% of the total import turnover.
Regarding the structure of imported goods in 2 months of 2021, the group of input materials was estimated at 44.3 billion USD, went up by 26.4% over the same period last year and accounted for 93.7% of total import turnover. Consumer goods group was estimated at 2.96 billion USD, rose by 18.4% and accounted for 6.3%.
Regarding imported goods market in 2 months of 2021, China remained the largest import market of Vietnam with a turnover of 17.3 billion USD, jumped up by 85.7% over the same period last year; the following was the Korean market with 8.4 billion USD, rose by 6.7%; ASEAN market with 5.6 billion USD, increased by 18.5%; Japan with 3.1 billion USD, going down by 0.2%; EU market with 2.3 billion USD, expanding by 4.7%; The United States with 2.1 billion USD, a decrease of 4.1%.
The trade balance of goods in January 2021 witnessed a trade surplus of 2.09 billion USD[6]; trade deficit for February 2021 was 800 million USD; trade surplus in the first 2 months of 2021 was estimated at 1.29 billion USD[7] (trade surplus of the same period last year were 1.8 billion USD), of which the domestic economic sector saw a trade deficit of 4.14 billion USD; the FDI sector (including crude oil) saw a trade surplus of 5.43 billion USD.
Passengers carried in 02/2021 were estimated at 324.3 million persons, went down 9.8% compared to the previous month and passengers traffic 13.8 billion passengers-km, falling by 11.3%. Generally, for 02 months, passengers carried reached 684.1 million passengers, a decrease of 21.1% over the same period last year (the same period of 2020 increased by 3.8%), and passengers traffic gained 29.3 billion passengers-km, a decline of 28.8% (the same period of 2020 increased by 4.9%). Generally, for 02 months, freight carried reached 323.4 million tons, up 8.7% against the similar period last year (it moved up by 6.1% in the same period in 2020) and freight traffic gained 59.8 billion tons-km, went up 4.2% (the identical period last year witnessed a 4.3% growth).
International visitors to Viet Nam in February were estimated at 11 thousand arrivals, went down 38.3% compared to the previous month and decreased 99.1% compared to the same period last year. Generally, for 02 months, international visitors to Viet Nam was estimated at 28.7 thousand arrivals, went down by 99.1% compared to the same period of 2020.
6. Consumer price index, gold price index and US dollar price index
Vietnam Electricity Group ended the support program to reduce electricity prices and electricity bills for customers; the price of food, foodstuff, outdoor eating and drinking increased and the price of public transport service during the Lunar New Year was the main reasons made the consumer price index (CPI) in February 2021 increase by 1.52% over the previous month – the highest increase of the index in February in the past 8 years[8] and 1.58% over December 2020. However, compared to the same period last year, CPI in February increased only by 0.70% – the lowest increase since 2016 until now[9]. On average, in the first 2 months of 2021, CPI decreased by 0.14% over the same period last year, the core inflation increased by 0.64%.
CPI of February 2021 increased by 1.58% compared to December 2020 and by 0.70% over the same period last year; the average CPI of the first 2 months in 2020 decreased by 0.14% compared to the same period in 2020.
Core inflation in February 2021 increased by 0.48% over the previous month and increased by 0.79% over the same period last year. The average core inflation of the first 2 months of 2021 grew by 0.64% compared to the same period of 2020.
The domestic gold price fluctuated in the opposite direction of the world gold price. Gold price index in February 2021 increased by 0.25% compared to the previous month; an increase of 2.42% compared to December 2020 and increased by 25.08% over the same period last year. The US-dollar price index in February 2021 decreased by 0.17% over the previous month; decreased by 0.33% compared with December 2020 and dropped by 0.76% over the same period last year.
7. Social issues
The covid-19 epidemic with a new variant broke out from the end of January had a significant impact on people’s life. Faced to this situation, the President issued Decision No. 07/QĐ-CTN on giving gifts to objects with meritorious services to the revolution on the occasion of the Tan Suu Lunar New Year with the total implementation of over 538 billion Dong; gave gifts to nearly 5,384 children with a total budget of over 3.3 billion VND from the National Fund for Vietnamese Children. Besides, as of 22/02/2021, there were more than 222.2 people supported over from hunger in the between-crop period with a total of 3,333.7 tons of rice. From June 2020 up to now, this is the 9th consecutive year that hunger has not arisen nationwide.
The epidemic of Covid-19 in the world continues to be complicated[10]. The 5 countries with the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the world were the United States, India, Brazil, Russia and England. In Vietnam, as of 6:00 am on February 27th, 2021, there were 2,426 cases have been reported, 1,839 cases have been cured (35 deaths).
In the first 2 months of 2021, there were 2,355 traffic accidents nationwide, including 1,503 traffic accidents of less serious or more serious and 852 traffic crashes, killing 1,230 people, 780 people were injured and 968 people were slightly injured. On average for 2 months, there are 38 traffic accidents nationwide in a day, including 24 traffic accidents of less serious or more serious and 14 traffic crashes, causing 20 deaths, 13 people injured and 16 people slightly injured.
Generally, in the first 2 months this year, natural disasters caused 01 person missing and 01 person injuring; 634 houses collapsed and damaged; 3.3 thousand cattle and poultry died; 288.3 ha of rice and 110 ha of crops were damaged; Total property damage was estimated at 27.3 billion VND.
During the month, there were 210 fires and explosions nationwide, killing 13 people and injuring 18 people, the estimated loss was 25.5 billion dongs. Generally, for 02 months, the whole country had 455 cases of fire and explosion, killing 18 people and injuring 30 people, estimated loss was 139.6 billion dongs./.
[1] According to the Viet Nam Administration of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
[2] This year’s Lunner New Year is concentrated in February, while the Lunner New Year of the previous year took place in late January.
[3]Source: National Enterprise Registration Information System, Business Registration Management Agency, Ministry of Planning and Investment.
[4] Data in February 2021 meeting by an interdisciplinary team consisting of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the State Bank of Vietnam, the General Department of Customs and the General Statistics Office meeting estimates based on export turnover figures, import as of February 25, 2021 of the General Department of Customs combined with market information, the proportion and trend of export and import of goods. The General Statistics Office received and updated the report on the afternoon of February 26, 2021.
[5] Total import-export turnover in two months of 2020 reached 76.9 bill. USD, increased by 6.4% over the same period last year, of which exports reached 39.4 bill. USD, up 9.2%; Imports recorded 37.5 bill. USD, an increase of 3.6%.
[6] The trade surplus in January 2021 was estimated at 1.3 billion USD.
[7] Of which, the trade surplus to the EU reached 4 billion USD, up 36.3% over the same period last year; trade deficit from China was 8.8 billion USD, up 130.8%; trade deficit from Korea was 5 billion USD, up 0.6%; trade deficit from ASEAN was 1.4 billion USD, up 82.7%.
[8] The increase/decrease of CPI in February over the previous month of period of 2014-2021: up 0.55%; down 0.05%; up 0.42%; up 0.23%; up 0.73%; up 0.8%; down 0.17%; up 1.52% respectively.
[9] CPI growth rate in February over the same period last year in period of 2016-2021: 1.27%; 5.02%; 3.15%; 2.64%; 5.4%; 0.70% respectively.
[10] As of 6:00 on February 27th, 2021, in the world, there were 113,938.6 thousand cases of Covid-19 (2,527.5 thousand deaths).