Manufacturing & Industry
This category focuses on industrial production, from electronics and textiles to automotive and heavy industry. It covers FDI trends, supply chain developments, factory expansions, and government regulations shaping the industrial landscape. As a key driver of economic growth, manufacturing plays a crucial role in global supply chains, technological advancements, and industrial competitiveness.
Vietnam Purchasing Managers’ Index jumps in October
The S&P Global Vietnam Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index reached 51.2 in October up from 47.3 in September, according to a press release from S&P. Above the 50 point break-even mark, this would indicate the manufacturing industry is expanding once more after a sharp fall in September…
Vietnam News Roundup: October 25 to October 31
This week’s Vietnam news roundup covers the latest State Bank open market operations, e-commerce market data, trade investigations, gold market developments, housing supply data, and more…
Vietnam domestic apparel prices hold steady in September
From January to September 2024, prices rose by 1.48 percent compared to the same period last year, indicating only mild inflation. Monthly figures show only a .15 percent increase in September over August 2024, and over December 2023 of 0.58 percent.
Vietnam retail market projected to grow by US$226.4 billion by 2028
One of the primary drivers is the rising demand for convenience food products. As more Vietnamese adopt urban lifestyles and increasingly busy schedules, convenience foods have become a popular choice, catering to the need for fast and easy meal options…
Vietnam’s pharmaceutical production increase 1 point on Industrial Production Index
Compared to the same period last year, the pharmaceutical sector posted an impressive 15.4 percent increase, highlighting robust year-on-year growth driven by rising demand for medical products. For the first nine months of 2024, production in this category grew by 10.6 percent over the same period in 2023. This sustained growth reflects Vietnam’s efforts to expand its domestic pharmaceutical production capabilities.
Cosmetics production falls in September per key Vietnam production index
That said, from January to September 2024, the sector posted a 15.1 percent growth, highlighting sustained demand for these products throughout the year. The strong year-to-date performance reflects the growing importance of Vietnam’s cosmetics and personal care market, driven by increasing consumer spending and rising interest in beauty and hygiene products across the country. Despite short-term fluctuations, the long-term outlook for the sector looks to remain positive…
Vietnam, UAE to cut most import tariffs under new trade deal
Vietnam’s network of Free Trade Agreements–FTAs–has become a cornerstone of its economic strategy, enabling the country to integrate more deeply into the global economy and expand its trade partnerships. Over the past few decades, Vietnam has signed numerous bilateral and multilateral FTAs, positioning itself as a key player in regional and international trade…
Australia’s Commonwealth Bank off-loads another 10 percent of Vietnam’s VIB
This comes after it was announced back in June that the Australian bank would be divesting from the company which VIB’s board of directors reportedly only learned about after the State Bank of Vietnam approved the move. The Commonwealth Bank held a 20 percent stake in the bank at the time.
Media Relations in Vietnam: Lessons from VinFast
How VinFast has managed its brand image and narrative offers some interesting insights into the company and, by extension, how media relations work in Vietnam…
Vietnam garment manufacturing declines in September over August: IIP
The index also found that the ready-made garments (excluding apparel) category, conversely, recorded modest growth of 0.5 percent in September with a year-on-year rise of 12 percent…
Vietnam seafood products across the board see sharp falls in September
Of note, Typhoon Yagi wreaked havoc on northern Vietnam in September and waylaid a large portion of Vietnam’s fishing industry for up to several weeks for some firms…
FDI in Vietnam’s construction sector jumps September over August
Year-to-date, the construction sector has secured 40 new projects with a cumulative registered capital of US$586.7 million, indicating steady interest in Vietnam’s construction industry. For the year-to-date, the average investment per project stands at around US$14.7 million…
Vietnam’s dairy industry production grows 2.8 percent September over August
The year-on-year comparison reveals even more encouraging growth. The index for September 2024 was 5.1 percent higher than the same month last year, showcasing the sector’s resilience and sustained expansion…
Vietnam pharmaceutical materials imports fall 20.41 percent in September over August
Despite a 16.91 percent decline in imports from China (dropping from US$28,664,787 to US$23,817,031), China continues to be Vietnam’s top supplier of pharmaceutical materials, with a year-to-date total of US$245,220,442…
Vietnam furniture production records 3.3 percent month-on-month growth in September
In a year-on-year comparison, production for September 2024 was up by 38.3 percent over the same month in 2023, indicating higher demand in the furniture sector. Furthermore, the cumulative data for the first nine months of 2024 shows a 24.7 percent rise in production compared to the same period last year.
Vietnam’s VinFast has spent US$268.6 million on its stalled North Carolina factory so far
This is notably in that the factory was officially put on hold earlier this year, as the nascent car maker deals with huge losses, legal action, and little interest in its vehicles in the US market. VinFast has said the factory, which was scheduled to start operating next year, will now start operating in 2028.
Vietnam rubber, plastics firm struggle to compete with cheap chinese goods
This is noteworthy in that a lot of the focus with respect to cheap Chinese imports has been on the fact that low value goods are exempt from Vietnam’s Value-added Tax. In this context, applying VAT to these low cost imports has been floated as one way to level the playing field. However, it seems that what Nguyen is saying is that it doesn’t even necessarily need to go that far but rather a simplification of VAT refund procedures and processes could help local firms in the first instance.
Healthcare costs in Vietnam up 8.28 percent year-on-year in September
For the period from January to September 2024, the cost of medicines and medical services surged by 7.46 percent compared to the same period in 2023, underscoring growing pressure on consumers as they face escalating prices in healthcare, but also heightened demand for healthcare services…
Vietnam cosmetics imports fall 12.92 percent September over August
Despite the overall decline, imports from Switzerland surged by 71.79 percent, and France saw an increase of 19.45 percent, likely indicating strong demand for premium or specialised cosmetic products from these countries…
New regulations on higher education for foreign universities in Vietnam
Of note, the new decree prohibits foreign higher education institutions from establishing branches in Vietnam of they are not ranked among the top 500 universities globally for the preceding three years…
In today’s Vietnam news: GS TL on AI, Saigon Economic Times last issue, Fuel prices cut, Vinhomes issuing more bonds, Counterfeit Korean cosmetics store,
In today’s Vietnam news: Power supply imports, Hanoi boulevard project protests, Antidumping duties coming for boxes, Maersk container terminal project Hanoi, Vinpearl foreign investment,
In today’s Vietnam news: Credit limits removed for some major projects, Estonian web security company market entry, Vingroup’s Vuong becomes major shareholder LP Bank,
This is an interview with Chris Walker, a Vietnam Sourcing Expert with Vietnam Factory Tours how rising oil prices and the Middle East crisis are
This is an interview with John Gardner, CEO and Founding Partner, at Optimum Hospitality in Ho Chi Minh City. It covers fuel price impacts on:
This is an interview with Dr Nuno F. Ribeiro, Associate Professor, International Tourism & Hospitality Management at Copenhagen Business College, formerly of RMIT Vietnam. It