Socio-economic situation in January of 2025

1. Agriculture, forestry and fishery

a) Agriculture

– As of January 20, 2025, the whole country has cultivated 2,020.2 thousand hectares of winter-spring rice, equaling 103.9% of the same period last year. In which, the Northern localities reached 217.7 thousand hectares, equaling 141.4%; the southern localities reached 1,802.5 thousand hectares, equaling 100.7%, the Mekong Delta region alone reached 1,463.0 thousand hectares, equaling 101.5%.

– Annual crops: The area of sweet potatoes and soybeans decreased compared to the same period last year due to the switch to other crops such as corn, peanuts, vegetables, etc. for higher economic efficiency.

– Livestock: The total number of pigs in the country is estimated to increase by 3.7% by the end of January 2025 compared to the same time in 2024; the total number of cows decreased by 0.3%; the total number of buffaloes decreased by 4.4%; the total number of poultry increased by 1.7%.

b) Forestry

The area of newly concentrated planted forests nationwide in January 2025 is estimated at 8.2 thousand hectares, up 2.6% over the same period in 2024; the number of scattered planted forestry trees was estimated at 3.6 million trees, an increase of 2.3%; timber output was estimated at 1,158.7 thousand m3, up 8.1%; the area of damaged forests was 38.7 hectares, an increase of 90.6%, of which: The area of burned forests was 2.3 hectares, 8.0 times higher, the area of felled and destroyed forests was 36.4 hectares, an increase of 81.8%.

c) Fishery

Fishery production in January 2025 is estimated at 594.1 thousand tons, up 0.7% over the same period last year, of which aquaculture production is estimated at 329.2 thousand tons, up 5.1%; fishery production was estimated at 264.9 thousand tons, down 4.3%.

2. Industrial production

– The index of industrial production (IIP) in January 2025 is estimated to decrease by 9.2% compared to the previous month and increase by 0.6% over the same period last year. In which, the processing and manufacturing industry increased by 1.6% over the same period last year; electricity production and distribution increased by 0.4%; water supply, waste and wastewater management and treatment activities increased by 9.2%. Particularly, the mining industry decreased by 10.4%.

– The industrial production index in January 2025 compared to the same period last year increased in 47 localities and decreased in 16 localities nationwide.

– The number of employees working in industrial enterprises as of January 1, 2025 will increase by 0.2% over the same period last month and increase by 4.5% over the same period last year.

3. Enterprise registration status ^[1]

– In January 2025, the whole country had nearly 10.7 thousand newly established enterprises, an increase of 6.6% over the previous month and a decrease of 30.3% over the same period last year. Besides, there were nearly 22.8 thousand enterprises resumed, more than 2.6 times compared to the last months and up 38.3% to the same period last year; bringing the total number of newly registered businesses and return to operation in January 2025 to over 33.4 thousand ones, a year-on-year increase of 15.0%.

Also in this month, there were 52.8 thousands temporarily inactive enterprises, up 20.2% over the same period last year; nearly 3.5 thousand enterprises ceased and awaited dissolution procedures, down 55.2%; 2,021 enterprises completed dissolution procedures, down 8.3%. The number of enterprises withdrawing from the market was 58.3 thousand ones, an year-on-year increase of 8.1%.

4. Investment

Investment capital implemented from the State budget in January 2025 is estimated at 35.4 trillion VND, equal to 4.1% of the annual plan and an increase of 9.6% over the same period last year (the same period in 2024 was equal to 4.1% and an increase of 16.9%).

Total foreign investment capital registered in Vietnam  As of January 31, 2025, including newly registered capital, adjusted registered capital and capital contribution and share purchase value of foreign investors, reached 4.33 billion USD, an increase of 48.6% over the same period last year.

Foreign direct investment realized in Vietnam in January 2025 was estimated at 1.51 billion USD, up 2.0 % over the same period last year.

Vietnam’s overseas investment in January 2025 had 10 projects newly granted investment certificates with a total capital of Vietnam’s side of 83.0 million USD, 5.1 times higher than the same period last year.

5. State budget revenue and expenditure

Total state budget revenue in January 2025 was estimated at VND 275.9 trillion, equal to 14.0% of the annual estimate and up 3.5% over the same period last year.

Total state budget expenditure in January 2025 was estimated at VND 134.4 trillion, equal to 5.3% of the yearly estimate and up 4.8% over the same period last year.

6. Trade, prices, transport, and tourism

a) Retail sales of goods and services

Gross retail sales of goods and services in January 2025 was estimated at 573.3 trillion VND, up 2.7% over the previous month and up 9.5% over the same period last year^[2] (in the same period in 2024, it increased by 8.0%), if excluding the price factor, it increased by 6.6% (in the same period in 2024, it increased by 5.6%).

b) Export and import of goods^[3]

Total  export and import turnover of goods^[4] in 01/2025 reached 63.15 billion USD, down 10.5% over the previous month and down 3.5% over the same period last year^[5]. Of which exports decreased by 4.3%; imports decreased by 2.6%^[6]. The trade balance of goods had a surplus of 3.03 billion USD.

 – Export of goods

+ Export turnover of goods in 01/2025 reached 35.09 billion USD, down 6.9% over the previous month and decreased by 0.9% compared to the same period last year.

+ Regarding the structure of exported groups in 01/2025, the group of processing industry reached 29.43 billion USD, accounting for 89.0%.

 – Import of goods

+ Import turnover of goods in 01/2025 reached 30.06 billion USD, decreased by 14.1% over the previous month and decreased by 2.6% compared to the same period last year.

+ Regarding the structure of imported groups in 01/2025, the group of production materials reached 28.26 billion USD, accounted for 94.0%.

– Regarding the export and import market of goods in 01/2025, the United States was the Viet Nam’s largest export market with a turnover of 9.8 billion USD. China remained the largest import market of Viet Nam with a turnover of 11.6 billion USD.

– According to preliminary data, 01/2025 had a trade surplus of 3.03 billion USD. Of which, the domestic economic sector had a trade deficit of 1.4 billion USD; the FDI sector (including crude oil) had a trade surplus of 4.43 billion USD.

d) Transport

Passengers carried in January 2025 were estimated at 453.7 million persons, increased by 7.2% compared to the previous month, and an increase of 17.0% over the same period last year ; passenger traffic gained 25.4 billion passengers-km, increased by 8.0% and up 18.0%.

Freight carried in January 2025 was estimated at 236.4 millions tons, decreased by 0.1% compared to the previous month, and up 12.5% against the similar period last year, freight traffic gained 53.8 billion tons-km, up 0.2% and increased by 15.2%.

đ) International visitors to Viet Nam

Favorable visa policies, enhanced tourism promotion programs, and prestigious tourism awards presented by international organizations have attracted an increasing number of international visitors to Vietnam in the first month of 2025, reached nearly 2.1 million arrivals, up 18.5% over the previous month and up 36.9% over the same period last year.

7. Some social situations

– According to the survey on the living situation of households in January 2025, the percentage of households assessed to have income during the month remained unchanged and increased compared to the same month last year at 96.0%.

– In January (December 26, 2024 – January 25, 2025), there were 1,772 traffic accidents nationwide, killing 964 people; 1,138 people were injured. On average, one day in a month, there are 57 traffic accidents nationwide, killing 31 people and injuring 37 people.

– Natural disasters that occurred during the month were mainly heavy rains that damaged 2.2 thousand hectares of rice and crops; Estimated damage value is 14.8 billion VND (of which, estimated damage caused by heavy rain is more than 8 billion VND, accounting for 54.4% of total damage), down 76.2% over the same period in 2024.

– In January 2025 (from December 18, 2024 to January 17, 2025), according to reports from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Police of provinces and centrally run cities compiled by the Departments of Statistics, the authorities detected 3,794 cases of environmental violations, of which 3,137 cases were handled with a total fine of 30 billion VND, a decrease 13.6% compared to December 2024 and up 12.1% over the same period last year.

– During the month, there were 377 fires and explosions nationwide, killing 8 people and injuring 8 people, with an estimated damage value of 11.7 billion VND, down 0.8% over the previous month and down 39.8% over the same period last year.

[1] Source: National Enterprise Registration Information System, Business Registration Management Agency, Ministry of Planning and Investment (Received the report on January 23, 2024).

[2] Lunar New Year At Ty falls in January 2025, while Lunar New Year Giap Thin falls in February 2024.

[3] The value of export turnover is calculated at F.O.B price and import turnover is calculated at C.I.F price (including transportation and insurance costs of imported goods).

[4] Preliminary import and export data for January 2025 provided by the Viet Nam Customs on February 03, 2025.

[5] Because January this year has Lunar New Year holiday, the number of working days in January this year is 5 days less than January last year.

[6] Total import and export turnover of goods in 01/2024 reached 65.4 billion USD, up 40.3% over the same period last year, of which exports reached 34.5 billion USD, up 46.2%; imports reached 30.8 billion USD, up 34.2%.