1. Agriculture, forestry and fishery
Agriculture, forestry, and fishery production in August took place in relatively favorable weather conditions for crops and livestock to grow and develop. Localities across the country focused on planting and taking care of summer rice; harvest rice and crops in the summer-autumn crop and at the same time cultivating the autumn-winter crop. However, due to the complicated development of the Covid-19 pandemic, many localities have implemented social distancing, affecting the supply chain of production – processing – consumption of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products.
a) Agriculture
As of August 15, the whole country cultivated 1,409.1 thousand hectares of winter rice, an equal to 98% over the same period last year, of which in the Northern localities cultivated 1,037.3 thousand hectares, equaling 99.4%; Southern localities planted 371.8 thousand hectares, equaling 94.4%.
The country’s summer-autumn rice crop this year planted 1,955.9 thousand hectares, an increase of 10.8 thousand hectares compared to the summer-autumn crop last year. As of mid-August, the whole country harvested 999.4 thousand hectares of summer-autumn rice, accounting for 51.1% of the cultivated area and equaling 97.9% of the same period last year, mainly in the Mekong River Delta with 861.3 thousand hectares, accounting for 57.1% and equaling 98.4%.
As of August 15, localities across the country cultivated 817.5 thousand hectares of maize, equaling 99% over the same period last year; 85.3 thousand hectares of sweet potatoes, equaling 93.6%; 155.2 thousand hectares of groundnut, equaling 97.7%; 35.8 thousand hectares of soybeans, equaling 92.6%; 958.6 thousand hectares of vegetables and beans, equaling 100.5%.
Cattle raising in the month is generally stable, the Lumpy Skin Disease is gradually being controlled, but the risk of recurrence is still high. It is estimated that at the end of August, the buffalo population decreased by 3.8% against the same period last year; the cattle population increased by 1.8%; the total number of pigs increased by 4.5%; the poultry population increased by 4.2%.
As of August 25, 2021, the country was no longer recorded cases of blue ear disease in pigs and foot and mouth disease. Some diseases remained in several localities for less than 21 days: avian influenza remained in Lang Son, Nghe An, Dak Lak; African swine fever was reported in 29 provinces and LSD was reported in 36 provinces.
b) Forestry
The newly concentrated planted forests nationwide in August 2021 was estimated at 19.9 thousand hectares, up 1.9% over the same period last year. In the eight months of 2021, the estimated area of newly concentrated planted forests nationwide reached 143.4 thousand hectares, up 3.0% over the same period last year; the number of scattered forest trees reached 56.2 million trees, up 1.7%; the timber output attained 11,085.2 thousand m3, up 5.1%; the firewood output was 12.9 million ste, down 0.5%.
In August 2021, the damaged forest area[1] was 400.7 hectares, an increase of 97.0% over the same period last year, including the burnt forest area was 334.0 hectares, 1.7 times higher; the cut and deforested forest area were 66.7 hectares, down 19.0%. In eight months of 2021, the damaged forest area was 1,726.8 hectares, up 45.0% over the same period last year, including the burnt forest area was 963 hectares, up 66.8%; the cut and deforested forest area were 763.8 ha, an increase of 24.6%.
c) Thủy sản
Sản lượng thủy sản tháng Tám ước tính đạt 801,4 nghìn tấn, giảm 2,6% so với cùng kỳ năm trước, trong đó: Sản lượng thủy sản nuôi trồng đạt 443,8 nghìn tấn, giảm 4,1%; sản lượng thủy sản khai thác ước tính đạt 357,6 nghìn tấn, giảm 0,8%. Tính chung 8 tháng năm 2021, sản lượng thủy sản ước tính đạt 5.692,5 nghìn tấn, tăng 1,4% so với cùng kỳ năm trước, bao gồm: Sản lượng thủy sản nuôi trồng đạt 2.987,7 nghìn tấn, tăng 1,8%; sản lượng thủy sản khai thác đạt 2.704,8 nghìn tấn, tăng 0,8% (sản lượng thủy sản khai thác biển đạt 2.581,0 nghìn tấn, tăng 0,9%).
2. Industrial production
Industrial production in August was severely affected when the Covid-19 epidemic continued to develop complicatedly. Some localities had to implement social distancing to prevent the pandemic following Directive No. 16/CT-TTg. The industrial production index in August 2021 was estimated to decrease by 4.2% compared to the previous month and decreased by 7.4% compared to the same period last year. In the eight months of 2021, the industrial production index increased by 5.6% compared to the same period of 2020.
The index of industrial production (IIP) in August 2021 was estimated to decrease by 4.2% over the previous month and down 7.4% from the same period last year, of which the mining industry went down by 2.4%; manufacturing decreased by 9.2%; electricity production and distribution went up by 1.5%; water supply, waste and wastewater management, and treatment up 0.2%.
Overall, in the eight months of 2021, the IIP was estimated to increase by 5.6% over the same period last year. Although it was higher than the growth rate of 2.2% in the same period in 2020 but much lower than the growth rate of 9.5 % of the same period in 2019. Of which, the manufacturing rose by 7.0% (the same period last year up 3.7%), contributing 5.9 percentage points to the general growth; electricity production and distribution went up by 6.6%, contributing 0.6 percentage points; water supply, waste and wastewater management, and treatment peaked up by 4.4%, contributing 0.1 percentage points; the mining industry alone shrank by 6.2%, down by 01 percentage points in the general growth rate.
3. Enterprise registration status[2]
The strong outbreak of the 4th wave of the Covid-19 epidemic along with successive waves of social distancing has severely affected the production and business activities of enterprises, especially in the Southern provinces. The number of businesses withdrawing from the market in 8 months 2021 was 85.5 thousand enterprises, an increase of 24.2% over the same period 2020, in which Ho Chi Minh city had 24 thousand enterprises (accounting for 28.1% of total enterprises withdrawing from the market), an increase of 6.6%. Enterprises temporarily ceased for a certain time were 43.2 thousand enterprises, accounting for 50.5% of total enterprises withdrawing from the market.
In August 2021, the whole country had 5,761 newly established enterprises with registered capital were nearly 68 trillion VND and a total number of registered employees of nearly 43.4 thousand employees, a decrease of 34,1% in the number of enterprises, a decrease of 44.6% in the registered capital and a decrease of 39.1% in the number of employees compared to last month; a decrease of 57% in the number of enterprises, a decrease of 76.5% in the registered capital and a decrease of 54.9% in the number of employees compared to the same period last year. The average registered capital of a newly established enterprise reached 11.8 billion VND, a decrease of 16% compared to last month, and a decrease of 45.3% compared to the same period last year. In the month, there were 3,865 re-operated enterprises in the whole country, a decrease of 21.9% compared to the previous month and a decrease of 19.1% compared to the same period in 2020. Nearly 6,441 enterprises were withdrawing from the market, a decrease of 34.9% compared to the previous month and a decrease of 18.9% compared to the same period in 2020[3], including 3,118 enterprises that ceased for a certain time, a decrease of 31.1% and an increase of 0.5%; 2,511 enterprises temporarily ceased and awaited dissolution procedures, a decrease of 36.1% and rose by 26.7%; 812 enterprises completed dissolution procedures, a decrease of 43.7% and a decrease of 42.7%.
Generally, in the 8 months of this year, the whole country had 81.6 thousand newly registered enterprises with a total registered capital of 1,133.4 trillion VND and a total number of registered employees of 598.9 thousand employees, down 8% in the number of enterprises, a decrease of 7.5% in number the registered capital and a decrease of 13.8% in the number of employees compared to the same period last year. The average registered capital of a newly established enterprise in 8 months achieved 13.9 billion VND, climbing up 0.5% compared to the same period last year. If including 1,539.4 trillion VND of the additionally registered capital of nearly 30.1 thousand enterprises that recorded an upward adjustment of capital, the total additional registered capital in the economy in 8 months of this year was 2,672.8 trillion VND, down 17% compared to the same period in 2020. Besides, there were 32.4 thousand re-operated enterprises, a decrease of 0.6% over the same period last year, bringing the total number of newly registered enterprises and re-operated enterprises in 8 months this year to 114 thousand enterprises, the average every month had nearly 14.3 thousand newly established and re-operated enterprises.
In 8 months this year, there were 85.5 thousand enterprises temporarily ceased for a certain time, temporarily ceased and awaited dissolution procedures, and completed dissolution procedures, an increase of 24.2% over the same period last year, including 43.2 thousand enterprises temporarily ceased for a certain time, an increase of 25.9% compared to the same period last year; 30.1 thousand enterprises temporarily ceased and awaited dissolution procedures, a climbing up 24.5%; 12.2 thousand enterprises completed dissolution procedures, an increase of 17.8%. On average, nearly 10.7 thousand enterprises withdrawing from the market each month.
4. Investment
To control the spread of the disease, some provinces have implemented social distancing, which affected the implementation of public investment projects. Realized investment capital under the State budget in August decreased by 7,1% compared to the previous month and decreased by 24.7% compared to the same period last year. The total number of newly registered foreign investment projects as of August 20, 2021, decreased by 36.8% over the same period in 2020, but the registered capital increased by 16.3%. The average newly registered capital per project in the eight months of 2021 reached 10 million USD/project (it was 5.4 million USD/project in the same period in 2020).
Realized investment capital from the State budget in August was estimated at 34.9 trillion VND, decreased by 24,7% over the same period last year. Generally, in 8 months of this year, realized investment capital under the state budget reached 244.9 trillion VND, equaling 51.1% of the yearly plan and down 0.4% against the same period last year (the same period in 2020 equaled 48% and increased by 28%), including: The capital under central management was 41.6 trillion VND, equaling 46.9% of the yearly plan and increasing 5.5% against the same period last year; the capital under local management reached 203.3 trillion VND, equaling 51.5% of the yearly plan, and went down 1.6%.
The foreign direct investment from the beginning of the year to 20th August 2021[4] (including newly registered capital, adjust registered capital, and the total value of capital contribution and share purchases of foreign investors) reached 19.12 billion USD, decreased by 2.1% compared to the same period in 2020. Of which, the newly registered capital included 1,135 newly licensed projects with a registered capital of 11,33 billion USD, a decrease of 36.8% in the number of projects and a growth of 16.3% of registered capital; Adjust registered capital included 639 turns of projects which were licensed in the previous years registered to adjust investment capital with the additional capital of 4.98 billion USD, increased by 2.3%; capital contribution and share purchases of foreign investors included 2,720 turns with a total value of the capital contribution of 2.81 billion USD, a drop of 42.9%. Including 1,092 turns of capital contribution, share purchase causing the increase of charter capital of the enterprise with the value of contributed capital of 1.75 billion USD, and 1,628 turns of foreign investors repurchased domestic shares without increasing the charter capital with a value of 1.06 billion USD. Foreign direct investment capital that implemented in 8 months of the year reached 11.58 billion USD, a growth of 2% over the same period last year.
Vietnam’s investment abroad in 8 months of the year, there were 40 projects newly granted investment certificates with a total investment capital of 150.1 million USD, decreasing by 31.3% over the same period of last year; 13 turns of projects adjusted capital with additional capital of 424.9 million USD, equaled 3.8 times[5] of that in the previous year. Generally, the total investment capital of Vietnam abroad (newly and additionally licensed capital) in 8 months reached 575 million USD, increasing by 74.1% over the same period last year.
5. Trade, transport and tourism
The Covid-19 pandemic continued to develop complicatedly across the country, many localities implemented social distancing under Directive No. 16/CT-TTg have severely affected commercial, transport, and tourism activities. Gross retail sales of consumer goods and services in August decreased by 10.5% over the previous month and down by 33.7% over the same period last year. The total import and export turnover of goods in August 2021 was estimated at 53.7 billion USD[6]. Passenger transport in August decreased by 35.9% in passengers carried and decreased by 37.1% in passenger traffic traffic over the previous month; cargo transport decreased by 11% in freight carried, and decreased by 8.6% in freight. International visitors to Viet Nam in August 2021 were 9.3 thousand arrivals, decreased by 43% compared to the same period last year.
Gross retail sales of consumer goods and services in August was estimated at 279.8 trillion VND, down 10.5% from the previous month and down 33.7% over the same period last year. Generally, in 8 months of 2021, gross retail sales of consumer goods and services reached 3,044.5 trillion VND, down 4.7% over the same period last year, down 6.2% if eliminating price factor (the same period in 2020 decreased by 5.8%).
Export turnover in July 2021 reached 27.86 billion USD. Export turnover in August 2021 was estimated at 26.2 billion USD, decreased by 6% over the previous month, and went down by 5.4% compared to the same period last year. Generally, in 8 months of 2021, the export turnover was estimated at 212.55 billion USD, rose by 21.2% over the same period in 2020, of which, the domestic economic sector was 55.69 billion USD, went up by 10.5%, accounting for 26.2% of total export turnover; the FDI sector (including crude oil) attained 156.86 billion USD, increased by 25.5%, sharing 73.8%. In 8 months of 2021, there were 30 products with export turnover of over 1 billion USD, contributing 91.8% to the total export turnover (6 products with export turnover of over 10 billion USD, accounting for 63.1%).
Regarding the structure of export commodity groups in 8 months of 2021, the group of fuels and minerals was estimated at 2.29 billion USD, went up by 3.6% over the same period last year. The group of processing industry was estimated at 189.28 billion USD, jumped up by 22.5%. Agricultural and forestry products reached 15.4 billion USD, went up by 14.9%. The group of fishery products reached 5.58 billion USD, edged up by 7.1%.
Regarding the export commodity market in 8 months of 2021, the United States was Viet Nam’s largest export market with a turnover of 62.2 billion USD, a growth of 32.5% over the same period last year; the following was the China market with 32.7 billion USD, going up by 19.8%; The EU with 26.1 billion USD, rose by 14.5%; ASEAN market with 18.4 billion USD, an increase of 23.3%; South Korea with 13.9 billion USD, an increase of 9.9%; Japan with 13.5 billion USD, increased by 8.6%.
Import turnover of goods in July 2021 reached 29.11 million USD, 412 million USD higher than the estimated figure. Import turnover in August 2021 was estimated at 27.5 billion USD, decreased by 5.5% over the previous month, and increased by 21.2% compared to the same period in 2020. Generally, in 8 months of 2021, the import turnover was estimated at 216.26 billion USD, increased by 33.8% over the same period in 2020, of which the domestic economic sector reached 76.05 billion USD, went up by 29.2%; the FDI sector gained 140.21 billion USD, edged up by 36.4%. In 8 months of 2021, there were 33 imported products with a turnover of over 1 billion USD, accounting for 88.7 of the total import turnover.
Regarding the structure of imported goods in 8 months of 2021, the group of input materials was estimated at 204.16 billion USD, went up by 34.4% over the same period last year, in which machinery, equipment, accessory, means of transport and components reached 96.6 billion USD, went up by 27.2; fuel and row materials reached 107.56 billion USD, went up by 41.6. Consumer goods group was estimated at 12.1 billion USD, rose by 24%.
Regarding the imported goods market in 8 months of 2021, China remained the largest import market of Viet Nam with a turnover of 72.5 billion USD, jumped up by 47.1% over the same period last year; the following was the South Korean market with 34.6 billion USD, rose by 20.5%; ASEAN market with 28.2 billion USD, increased by 47.4%; Japan with 14.5 billion USD, going up by 13.7%; EU market with 11 billion USD, expanding by 17.1%; the United States with 10.4 billion USD, an increase of 12.3%.
The trade balance of goods in July 2021 witnessed a trade deficit of 1.25 billion USD[7]; trade deficit in 7 months was 2.41 billion USD; trade deficit for August 2021 was 1.3 billion USD; trade deficit in 8 months of 2021 was estimated at 3.71 billion USD[8](in the same period last year, it was a surplus of 13.69 billion USD), of which the domestic economic sector saw a trade deficit of 20.36 billion USD; the FDI sector (including crude oil) saw a trade surplus of 16.65 billion USD.
Passengers carried in August 2021 were estimated at 60.7 million persons, down 75.9% compared to the same period last year, and passenger traffic was 2 billion passengers-km, decreased by 80.3%. Generally, in 8 months of 2021, passenger carried reached 1,926.7 million passengers, a decrease of 18.8% over the same period last year (the same period of 2020 down 28.4%), the passenger traffic gained 80.1 billion passengers-km, went down 25.9% (the same period of 2020 decreased by 34.2 %). Freight carried in August 2021 was estimated at 91.1 million tons, reduced by 39.3% compared to the same period last year, and freight traffic 21.1 billion tons.km, down 21.8%. Generally, in 8 months of 2021, freight carried reached 1,069.3 million tons, down 3.5% against the similar period last year (the same period in 2020 decreased by 6.7%), freight traffic gained 216.5 billion tons-km, up 0.9% (the same period of 2020 decreased by 7.9%).
International visitors to Viet Nam in August were estimated at 9.3 thousand arrivals, up 24.4% compared to the previous month and decreased by 43% compared to the same period last year[9]. Generally, in the 8 months of 2021, international visitors to Viet Nam was estimated at 105 thousand arrivals, down 97.2% compared to the same period last year.
6. Consumer price index, gold price index and US dollar
The increase in the price of food and foodstuff in localities implementing social distancing according to Directive No. 16/CT-TTg was the main reason for the increase of the consumer price index (CPI) in August 2021 by 0.25% compared to the previous month, an increase of 2.51% compared to December 2020 and an increase of 2.82% compared to August 2020. However, in 8 months of 2021, CPI increased by 1.79% over the same period last year, the lowest increase since 2016; core inflation in 8 months increased by 0.9%.
CPI in August 2021 increased by 0.25% compared to the previous month. Average CPI in 8 months of 2021 increased by 1.79% compared to the average of the same period in 2020; CPI in August 2021 increased by 2.51% compared to December 2020 and increased by 2.82% over the same period last year.
Core inflation in August 2021 decreased by 0.02% compared to the previous month, increased by 0.98% over the same period last year. Average core inflation in 8 months of this year increased by 0.9% over the same period in 2020.
The domestic gold price fluctuated in the same direction as the world gold price. Gold price index in August 2021 decreased by 0.49% compared to the previous month; down 1.65% compared to December 2020 and down 3.02% over the same period last year. US dollar price index in July 2021 decreased by 0.44% compared to the previous month; down 0.67% compared to December 2020 and down 0.92% over the same period last year.
7. Some social situation
In August, social security work is of particular interest in the context that people’s lives have faced many difficulties due to the complicated situation of the Covid-19 epidemic, especially in localities implementing social distancing. In addition to actively implementing a support package of 26 trillion VND according to Resolution No. 68/NQ-CP dated July 1, 2021 and Decision No. 23/2021/QĐ-TTg dated July 7, 2021, the Government, The Prime Minister continued to give timely instructions to ensure people’s lives through documents such as: Resolution No. 86/NQ-CP dated August 6, 2021 on urgent solutions to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic; Decision No. 1409/QĐ-TTg dated August 16, 2021, directing the Ministry of Finance to supply 4,117.8 tons of rice from the national reserve to the provinces: Binh Phuoc, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang; Decision No. 1415/QĐ-TTg dated August 20, 2021, providing 130.2 thousand tons of rice from the national reserve to support people in 24 provinces and cities facing difficulties[10] due to Covid-19.
Particularly, Ho Chi Minh City was the locality most affected by the Covid-19 epidemic, in addition to implementing the instructions of the Government and the Prime Minister, the local budget has deducted 1,791 billion VND and received support package “The heart of the epidemic season, sharing love” of the Ministry of Information and Communications provided additional support for people during the epidemic season.
The epidemic of Covid-19 in the world continued to be complicated [11]. In Vietnam, the number of new cases increased rapidly, especially in Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong and southern provinces. As of the morning of August 28, 2021, there were 410,366 infections of Covid-19, of which the number of cures was 198,614 cases, of death was 10,053 cases. 8 provinces and cities have not recorded new cases for 14 days: Quang Ninh, Bac Kan, Tuyen Quang, Lai Chau, Hoa Binh, Yen Bai, Ha Giang, Kon Tum.
Traffic accident [12] in the eight months of 2021, there were 7,647 traffic accidents nationwide, including 4,911 traffic accidents of less serious or more serious and 2,736 traffic collisions, causing 3,892 deaths and 2,543 injured, and 2,783 people suffered minor injuries. On an average of 1 day in 8 months of 2021, there were 31 traffic accidents in the whole country, including 20 traffic accidents of less serious or more serious and 11 traffic collisions, killing 16 people, 11 people were injured and 12 people were slightly injured.
Natural disasters[13] occurred in the 8 months of this year made 56 people dead and missing, 95 people injured; 501 houses collapsed, swept away and 11.2 thousand houses were flooded and damaged; 8 thousand cattle and poultry died; 75.6 thousand hectares of rice and 37.4 thousand hectares of crops were damaged; total value of property damage was estimated at 913.1 billion VND, down 86.5% over the same period last year.
During the month[14], there were 224 fires and explosions in the whole country, killing 7 people and injuring 21 others, with estimated damage of 16.6 billion VND. In the eight months of 2021, there were 1,608 fires and explosions in the whole country, killing 74 people and injuring 114 people, with estimated damage of 335 billion VND./.
[1] Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, from July 16, 2021, to August 15, 2021.
[2] Source: National Enterprise Registration Information System, Business Registration Management Agency, Ministry of Planning and Investment (Received the report on 25th August 2021)
[3] This data may not reflect the actual number of enterprises withdrawing from the market, because, in the condition that many localities have to carry out socialization, enterprises cannot carry out procedures related to withdrawal from the market.
[4] According to the report received on August 22nd, 2021, of the Foreign Investment Department, Ministry of Planning and Investment.
[5] Adjusted investment capital increased sharply due to a project of Vingroup in the US adjusted to increase by 300 million USD; Indochina Rubber Development and Investment Co., Ltd. project in Cambodia increased by 76 million USD and 01 project of Vinfast in Germany increased by 32 million USD.
[6] Data in August 2021 meeting by an interdisciplinary team consisting of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the State Bank of Viet Nam, the General Department of Customs and the General Statistics Office meeting estimates based on export turnover figures, import as of August 26, 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 August 28, 2021.
[7] The trade deficit in July 2021 was estimated at 1.7 billion USD.
[8] Of which, in 8 months of 2021, the trade surplus to the EU reached 15.1 billion USD, rose by 12.7% over the same period last year; trade deficit from China was 39.8 billion USD, went up by 81%; trade deficit from Korea was 20.7 billion USD, going up by 28.9%; trade deficit from ASEAN was 9.8 billion USD, increased by 133.4%.
[9] According to the report of the Border Gate Department, the Border Guard Command, the Ministry of National Defense and the Immigration Department, the Ministry of Public Security, the reporting period was from July 21 to August 20, 2021.
[10] Dak Lak with 534.4 tons; Dak Nong 577.1 tons; Dong Thap 5,883.5 tons; Tay Ninh 336.3 tons; Ca Mau 2,862.3 tons; Vinh Long 2,103.2 tons; Long An 807 tons; Kien Giang 2,278.2 tons; Tra Vinh 1,739 tons; Khanh Hoa 2,000 tons; Binh Duong 11,325 tons; Ben Tre 2,408.3 tons; Binh Dinh 1,000.5 tons; An Giang: 3,362.3 tons; Nghe An 341.1 tons; Tien Giang 3,006.2 tons; Dong Nai 3,128.5 tons; Ba Ria – Vung Tau 2,283.5 tons; Phu Yen 1,852.7 tons; Da Nang city 1,630.6 tons; Can Tho city 5,015.5 tons; Binh Thuan 4,018.5 tons; Ninh Thuan 577.2 tons; Ho Chi Minh City 71,105 tons
[11] As of the morning of August 28, 2021, there were 216,162.5 thousand cases of Covid-19 in the world (4,497.7 thousand deaths).
[12] According to a quick report from the Office of the Ministry of Public Security, and the Department of Maritime Affairs (the Ministry of Transport).
[13] Summary reports from 63 Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, from July 19 to August 18, 2021.
[14]According to a quick report from the Ministry of Public Security on August 23, 2021.