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 ‘unlikely’ to see minimum wage hike in 2025
Of note, the National Wage Council meets at least once a year to discuss the minimum wage in Vietnam. That said, the minimum wage does not necessarily rise every year. For example, during COVID minimum wage rises were put on hold. Similarly, as Vietnam’s economy struggled in 2023 minimum wage hikes were delayed until 2024…
Elevated Vietnam banking bond issuances continue in July
Of note, back in 2022, the construction sector dominated bond issuances, accounting for about 52.30 percent of bonds issued by the end of July that year. Banking on the other hand accounted for just 2.17 percent. At the end of July this year, however, banking accounted for 67.2 percent of the bonds issued whereas construction accounted for just 2.8 percent.
UK court finds against Vietnam’s Vietjet in leasing dispute from 2021
A court in the UK has found that FitzWalter Aviation Holdings, which had a leasing agreement with Vietnam’s Vietjet, had the right to cancel said lease back in 2021. Vietjet had argued that the lease termination was illegal and had refused to allow four aircraft to be repossessed. The judgement
Vietnam’s Hoa Phat Steel: Stock Review
While the challenges are evident, the potential of Hoa Phat’s Dung Quat 2 complex to drive future growth cannot be ignored. This complex is expected to start operating in early 2025, targeting an annual production capacity of 5.6 million tons of steel, including 4.6 million tons of HRC and 1 million tons of specialty steel. This could potentially stimulate revenue, and profits, making Hoa Phat an intriguing investment prospect.
Indian pharmaceuticals firms planning US$200 million investment in Vietnam
Indian pharmaceutical giants SMS Pharmaceuticals and Sri Avantika Contractors are considering establishing a US$200 million plant in a manufacturing park in Thanh Hoa province. The project has already attracted around 50 potential secondary investors, according to Vietnam Investment Review. Of note, Vietnam’s pharmaceuticals market is projected to reach approximately US$2.4
Vietnam News Roundup: August 2 to August 8
This week’s Vietnam news roundup covers foreign trader stock market activity, bad debts, the latest manufacturing developments, the Big Mac Index, EU standards warning on Vietnam produce exports, Vietnam’s outbound FDI and more…
Commerce’s Findings from Vietnam’s Non-Market Economy Review: Unpacked
Last week, the United States Department of Commerce–the DOC–rejected Vietnam’s application to have its status as a non-market economy overturned. This came after a months-long review including thousands of pages of evidence and arguments, from both Vietnam and the United States, culminating in not just the aforementioned adverse findings but also a 284-page memorandum explaining the decision. This article breaks down the key points in said document.
Bad debts continue to skyrocket at most Vietnam banks
Of 29 of Vietnam’s biggest banks, 27 had recorded an increase in bad debt at the end of June, Mekong ASEAN has reported. Between them there was VND 46,719 billion or US$1.86 billion in bad debts, an increase of 20.8 percent compared to the end of 2023. Of note, back
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
Vietjet’s parent company calls for stronger aircraft leasing protections just weeks after a UK court authorised the seizure of the airline’s overseas assets. Meanwhile,
In today’s news brief: HP and Asus shift production back to China, Tesla begins hiring in Vietnam, Saigon Commercial Bank closes all but three
In today’s briefing: LPBank’s construction lending has surged 127 percent following revelations that Vingroup’s chairman and his wife became major shareholders. Meanwhile, Vietnam faces
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