Vietnam bullish on 1Q12 economic data

Four months’ export turnover up 22.1% to US$33.4 billion, while international tourism soars by 22.9% totaling to 2.4 million.

In a news release, the State Bank of Vietnam reported that statistics showed the national economy of Vietnam continued to see promising signs in the first four months of 2012.

First, total aquaculture output reached 1,546,400 tons, up 4.1% from the same period last year.
Industrial production posted a 4.3% year-on-year increase of which, mining and quarrying rose by 2.6%, manufacturing up 3.8%; power, gas and water up 14%.

The disbursed investment capital from the State budget reached US$2.66 billion, or 27.8% of the yearly plan and up 3.8% from the same period last year.

As of April 20, attracted FDI stood at US $4,267.1 million, equivalent to 68.5% from same period last year. The registered capital of 169 newly-licensed projects hit US $3099 million, accounting for 44.1% of the total licensed projects.

As estimated, four months’ total retailed sales of consumer goods and services reached approximately US $36.7 billion, up 21.6% from last year’ same period.

Four months’ export turnover reached US$ 33.4 billion, up 22.1% against the same period last year.

In the reviewed period, the EU was the largest importer of Vietnam with US$5.7 billion, equal to 17.1% of total export turnover and up 20.2% from the same period of 2011. The United States was the second with nearly US $5.7 billion, accounted for 16.9% and rose 17.5%.

Meanwhile, import turnover reached US $33.6 billion, up 4.4% from the same period of 2011, of which the domestic economic sector reached US$16.1 billion, down 11.9%; the FDI sector reached US $17.5 billion, up 25.9%.

Trade deficit surged to US$ 176 million, equal to 0.5% of the total export turnover.

CPI rose slightly by 0.05% from March. This was mainly due to a sharp decrease in the prices of catering and related services.

Average CPI in the first four months went up 14.57% against the same period of 2011.

The number of new telephone subscribers was estimated at 3.5 million, a 20% year-on-year increase.

International visitors to Vietnam were over 2.4 million, up 22.9%. Visitors coming for tourism were over 1.4 million; for business purposes, 429,500; and for visiting relatives, 441,500.