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 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…
Vietnam e-commerce sales reach US$3.3 billion third quarter: report
Notably, affordable products priced under VND 200,000, about US$8, made up over half of the online sales, and official stores, despite being only five percent of the total, contributed nearly a third of the overall revenue, reflecting a preference for authentic, high-quality items…
Gaming venues slated for more surprise inspections in southern Vietnam province
Of note, gambling in Vietnam is illegal but that doesn’t stop a sizable amount of betting occurring. Recognising that this might be a problem, or perhaps that Vietnam is missing out on millions of dollars worth of tax revenue, there have been recent moves to try to legalise the practice…
Vietnam pharmaceutical product imports up 6.95 percent in September over August
Belgium, with an 8.50 percent increase, and Switzerland, with a 32.64 percent increase, both showed steady growth, contributing US$23,789,578 and US$11,205,095 in September, respectively. Alternatively, Japan saw a significant spike in imports, with an 186.40 percent increase, though from a relatively low base. Japan’s total for the year so far now stands at US$52,869,822.
Vietnam News Roundup: October 18 to October 24
This week’s Vietnam news roundup covers the latest State Bank open market operations, import-export news, stock market developments including foreign investor trading activity, the most recent IMF GDP growth figures, the new rooftop solar decree, and more…
US DOC make final determination on frozen warmwater shrimp from Vietnam, others
The DOC’s preliminary determination for Vietnam, notes that ‘one or more respondents did not act to the best of their ability to respond to Commerce’s requests for information’. There being only two firms investigated from Vietnam, and given that the second Soc Trang Seafood Joint Stock Company, the other firm, received its own subsidy rate of 2.84 percent, it appears that the aforementioned statement explains Thong Thuan’s much higher subsidy rate…
Vietnam bank lending out pacing deposits creating ‘significant’ liquidity pressure
The Founder of Integrated Financial Solutions, banking consultant Le Hoai An, has told the Vietnam Investment Review that bank lending outstripping new deposits by about 3.7 percent is putting liquidity pressure on Vietnam’s banks. He also notes that a fall in business bank deposits suggests businesses are becoming more heavily reliant on capital from banks…
Vietnam’s steel exports fall 20.64 percent September over August
Vietnam’s steel exports fell 20.64 percent in value in September over August, according to data from Vietnam’s General Department of Customs. By the ton, they were also down 20.76 percent…
IMF Vietnam GDP growth forecast goes up for 2024 but down for 2025
The International Monetary Fund, in its October World Economic Outlook, has raised its growth forecast for Vietnam for this year to 6.1 percent up from 5.8 percent in its April report. It has, however, lowered its forecast for next year from 6.5 to 6.1 percent…
Vietnam ceramics exports fall 13.1 percent in September over August
Of note, Taiwan experienced the largest drop, with exports decreasing by 32.51 percent month-on-month to US$4.91 million. Despite this, Taiwan’s year-to-date value remained significant at US$54.77 million…
New Vietnam rooftop solar development Decree finally issued
Originally the Ministry of Industry and Trade had been pushing for no feed-in tariffs on rooftop solar, however, at the request of the government, it reluctantly agreed to have feed-in tariffs but limited to just ten percent of the installation’s capacity. This was then raised to 20 percent at the request of Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha…
Vietnam electronics exports fall 5.8 percent September over August
Of note, the USA remains Vietnam’s largest market, although exports to the USA dropped by 21.52 percent in September compared to August. This sharp decline brought the YTD total to around US$17.32 billion. China, on the other hand, saw a significant 24.81 percent increase in exports, amounting to US$1.24 billion in September, contributing to a YTD total of approximately US$9.1 billion…
It’s Time to Talk About Vietnam’s Credit Growth Policy…
A credit growth limit policy put in place to keep inflation in Vietnam in check back in 2010 was last year, after uncharacteristically low credit growth, reframed as a credit growth target. Banks, subsequently, have been pushed to issue more loans than they otherwise might have, which could have broad economic implications…
Vietnam non-wood furniture exports fall 4.6 percent September over August
Vietnam’s non-wood furniture exports fell by 4.6 percent in September over August from US$279 million to US$266.4 million. This has brought Vietnam’s total non-wood furniture exports to a total US$2.39 billion year-to-date. This represented an increase of 32.8 percent over the same period last year…
In today’s Vietnam news: Crypto transfers to VN not necessary, Novaland bond changes, Perspectives on garment industry, Working hours cut proposed, Adding political component
In today’s Vietnam news: Fuel prices cut, Double-digit growth target reinforced, New airport services delay approval requested, TikTok VN investment, Bybit in Vietnam, LG
In today’s Vietnam news: VN renews antidumping tariffs on Thai sugar, Power supply challenges continue, USTR tariffs forced labour, AMRO growth forecast downgrade, Foreign
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