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 outbound FDI falls 53 percent year-on-year in July 2024
It’s worth noting, however, that it’s quite common for local firms to have offices in other parts of the world, usually Singapore, through which they conduct their foreign investment activities. This is partly to avoid the bureaucratic approval process for outbound investment but also due to the perceived relative safety of more advanced markets.
Vietnamese steel giant injects massive capital in new complex, despite China challenge
China’s steel industry has significantly impacted Vietnam’s steel market over the last year or so. The Chinese real estate crisis has led to a construction slowdown, leaving steel mills there with excess inventory. As a consequence, China has ramped up steel exports, particularly to Vietnam…
Vietnam to sell itself as filming location in US despite censorship issues
In the past, Hollywood studios have generally used Thailand as a stand-in for Vietnam on the back of a more well developed film industry in Thailand as well as complicated procedures for getting approval to film in Vietnam. Most recently, producers of the Netflix series The Sympathiser, who had intended to film in Vietnam, could not get approval to do so on the back of censorship issues…
Costa Rica recognises Vietnam as a market economy even if US doesn’t
Of note, trade between Vietnam and Costa Rica is relatively small. So far this year, the Central American nation has not featured in Vietnam’s customs data. That said, state media has been pushing the number of countries that consider Vietnam a market economy as a key reason why it should be upgraded by the US. With this in mind, it’s likely there will be many more announcements like this from smaller countries…
Almost 6,000 redundancies at Vietnam’s Mobile World so far this year
Mobile World is one of the most active stocks on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange among foreign investors. Trading under the ticker MWG, shares of the company closed at VND 62,900 a share on Friday. Foreign investors currently own about 46.69 percent of the firm with a foreign ownership cap of 49 percent…
Imported car sales poised to overtake locally made cars in Vietnam
Most of these imports came from Indonesia, Thailand, and China which have seen their car market share in Vietnam grow on the back of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement, or ACFTA, that has seen import tariffs on most small cars with less than 9 seats reduced to zero…
Japan-Vietnam firms partner up on new cinema chain
Of note, for foreign firms, forming a partnership with a local business can reduce some administrative hurdles that go along with starting a business in Vietnam. Specifically, a joint venture will not require an Investment Registration Certificate or IRC…
EU standards warnings on Vietnam produce exports jump
This jump is in line with increased trade between the EU and Vietnam on the back of the European Union Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, commonly known as the EVFTA. Bu thought this agreement may have seen trade soar between the two partners it has also been somewhat challenging for Vietnam to implement. This is not just because of strict phytosanitary measures on produce entering the EU but a number of other stipulations in the agreement, particularly around workers rights.
Vietnam responds to Commerce finding on non-market economy review
“If the US Department of Commerce had reviewed the records and practices in Vietnam objectively and fairly, it would have been able to acknowledge the fact that Vietnam is a market economy,” Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade has said in a statement.
Hong Kong firm considers Vietnam-based phone component plant
Of note, in June, Vietnam’s phone and component exports surged 18.4 percent month-on-month, reaching nearly US$4.75 billion.This robust growth has solidified Vietnam’s position as the world’s second-largest exporter of smartphones and components.
Vietnam considers rolling back drink-driving penalties
It is not clear what has driven the MPS to suggest these changes, however, it should be noted that the alcoholic beverage industry has repeatedly complained that enforcement of Vietnam’s strict drink driving laws has impacted sales significantly. In fact, Heineken cited the laws as one reason why it had to close a production facility in Vietnam’s Quang Nam province earlier this year.
Vietnam to remain non-market economy: US Department Of Commerce
The United States Department of Commerce has said in a statement that Vietnam will remain a non-market economy for trade remedies purposes. This ends a months long review of Vietnam’s non-market economy status by the department which reached its findings on the back of “sustained and pervasive government influence” over
Hong Kong based Apple supplier to build aluminium factory in Vietnam
This move aligns with the rapidly growing demand for aluminum in Vietnam spurred by new factories belonging to major electronics manufacturers from Taiwan and South Korea, like Foxconn and LG–Foxconn has announced an increase in its investment in Vietnam to US$52.6 million, and LG is set to complete its factory complex in 2025 doubling its investment in Vietnam.
Vietnam News Roundup: July 26 to August 1
This week’s Vietnam news roundup covers foreign trader stock market activity, credit growth, the consumer price index for July, foreign direct investment data, S&P’s Purchasing Managers’ Index, an EU dumping complaint against Vietnamese steel, and more…
[press release] Rockbird Media Brings Retail, E-Commerce Summit to Vietnam
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – Following the successful run of the Retail & E-Commerce Summit Asia (RESA) across Southeast Asia, rockbird media is thrilled to unveil the next chapter of the summit in a new destination: Vietnam. Under
Vietnam on track to become world’s fifth-biggest coal importer
The International Energy Association Coal Mid-Year Update 2024 has found that Vietnam is on track to become the fifth biggest importer of coal in the world. Vietnam’s coal imports were up 38.6 percent in terms of volume and 14.5 percent in terms of value by the end of June…
Vietnam Purchasing Managers’ Index remains steady at 54.7: S&P Global
S&P Global’s Vietnam Purchasing Managers’ Index recorded 54.7 points in July which was the same as in June. S&P Global says this was on the back of a ‘substantial rise’ in new orders. It does, however, note that to fulfil these orders firms relied largely on finished goods already on
India’s Adani considering Vietnam seaport, airports, thermal power investments
Of note, Adani is currently invested in just two projects in Vietnam, a wind power plant and a solar power plant the latter of which has run into problems with poor infrastructure forcing the plant to curb power production back in 2022.
Is a Sugar Tax Right for Vietnam?
A sugar tax has been on the cards for Vietnam for some time now and may be drawing closer to becoming a reality. It has, however, been met with broad push back from industry and industry groups. This article looks at the public debate around a possible sugar tax in Vietnam, the impact it might have, and what foreign-owned businesses should be mindful of in this context.
Dumping complaint received by European Commission RE: Vietnamese steel
Trade remedies against Vietnam’s exports have increased significantly in recent years in large part due to Chinese firms using Vietnam as a thoroughfare to avoid tariffs on Chinese exports in other parts of the world. Electric bikes and solar panels, for example. It’s not clear that this is the case with HRC but if the EU finds as such it should not come as a surprise…
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