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Industrial production sees positive recovery

Published

2 days ago

March 16, 2025

Vietnam’s economic growth in the first half of 2024 achieved a positive result with a figure of 6.42%. The significant recovery in industrial production has made an important contribution.

According to the General Statistics Office, the industrial sector experienced many positive changes and achieved good growth, in the first six months of the year. Notably, in the second quarter, industrial production recovered positively, based on relatively low growth in the same period of 2023 (0.86%), with the added value reaching 8.55%, compared to the same period. Specifically, the manufacturing and processing industry surged with a growth rate of 10.04%, while the electricity production and distribution industry continued to grow strongly at 14.15%, ensuring electricity supply for production, business, and people’s needs. The water supply, waste management, and wastewater treatment sectors increased by 7.83%, and the mining industry recorded a negative growth of 9.06%, due to the policy of gradually reducing domestic mineral extraction.

Overall, in the first six months, the added value of the industrial sector reached 7.54%, and many secondary sectors had double-digit growth.

Enterprise’s recovery beyond expectations

Despite many pessimistic forecasts, at the beginning of the year, industrial enterprises have shown a good recovery in the first half of the year. Many businesses have made a spectacular comeback.

For multi-industry conglomerates like DNP Holding, systems operation under unstable economic conditions over the past six months, has been a significant challenge. However, by the end of May, the company’s revenue exceeded 50% of the plan, and profits increased by more than 50%.

Tran Huu Chuyen, Deputy General Director of the Group, noted that this result was beyond the initial forecast thanks to a remarkable orders recovery amid cheaper and more accessible credit. “Despite challenging economic conditions, we highly appreciate the timely support from the Government. We have taken advantage of boosts related to policy to restructure and recover effectively.”

A highlight in the economic picture of the past six months was the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI). The capital flow continued to increase, estimated at 10.84 billion USD, up 8.2% from last year. This is the highest figure for the first six months in the past five years.

This has provided companies in the cleanroom and high-tech supply areas, such as Intech Group, with many advantages. According to Cao Dai Thang, CEO of the Group, the industrial production activities of FDI enterprises have been quite active, with a high demand for building production systems, allowing the company to recover better.

Phi Huong Nga, Director of the Industrial and Construction Statistics Department under the General Statistics Office, assessed that industrial growth was positive, with industrial production continuing the recovery momentum from the first quarter of 2024 and showing a clearer growth trend in the second quarter. The industrial production index increased month by month and quarter by quarter, with 5.9% in the first quarter, an estimated 9.5% in the second quarter, and an estimated 7.7% in the first six months of 2024, compared to the same period last year. Among these, three out of four primary industrial sectors (including manufacturing, electricity production and distribution, water supply, and waste treatment) increased compared to last year, with growth rates of 8.5%, 13.0%, and 6.3%, respectively.

Especially, the manufacturing and processing industry, which accounts for more than 74% of the added value of the entire industrial sector, continued its growth trajectory in a clearer trend, increasing by 8.5% in the first half of the year, compared to the same period last year while the same period saw a decrease of 1.8%.

In the manufacturing and processing industry, inventory levels decreased as reflected by an increase in production index, a higher consumption index than production, and an inventory index reduction. Specifically, the production index and consumption index increased by 8.5% and 10.8%, respectively (the consumption index increased by 2.3 percentage points higher than the production index) and the inventory index was expected to increase by 9.6% as of June 30, 2024, compared to the same time last year, significantly lower than the 19.9% increase in the same period in 2023. The average inventory ratio of the manufacturing and processing industry in the first six months of 2024 was 76.9%, much lower than the 83.1% increase in the same period in 2023.

Business confidence

Le Duy Binh, an economic expert, believes that this recovery is also clearly reflected in the relatively high increase in exports and imports, with 14.5% and 17%, respectively. These figures indicate that enterprises had good order volumes and showed positive imports of raw materials for production.

Binh said the number of enterprises returning to the market and the number of newly established enterprises increased strongly, showing that the health of the business sector has improved. This has reversed the trend of previous years when the number of enterprises withdrawing was higher than that of new establishments. “Particularly, the recovery of the manufacturing and processing industry has been stronger, showing a more reliable recovery of the economy,” said Binh.

Paulo Medas, Head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s 2024 Article IV Mission to Vietnam, gave a positive evaluation of Vietnam’s flexible fiscal and monetary policy management. State’s support policies are targeted correctly to help the economy recover and grow more sustainably. “Especially, the recovery of the business sector shows that business confidence has returned. This is also quite clearly reflected in the FDI sector. When global capital flows are still very gloomy, Vietnam remains a reliable destination for many foreign investors”, Paulo assessed.

However, in the context of many global uncertainties, the Government and relevant ministries and agencies must continue to support business activities, Binh added. There are still more than 100,000 enterprises withdrawing from the market, and the survey results on business trends of manufacturing and processing enterprises showed that more than 60% still believe that the business situation will not improve. This indicates that there are still issues in need of being addressed to improve the business environment and boost the spirit and enthusiasm of enterprises in business activities.

Project

Central Vietnam province aims to add 2,300 MW of wind power to development plan

Published

31 minutes ago

March 17, 2025

Industrialzone.net

Vietnam’s central province of Quang Tri plans to add 1,800 MW of 43 land-based wind power projects and 500 MW of offshore wind power to the draft implementation scheme of the national power development plan VIII (PDP VIII).

The draft scheme also features 260.5 MW of hydropower, 119.6 MW of solar power, and 23 MW of rooftop solar power for self-consumption, Quang Tri authorities discussed last week.

Quang Tri's acting Chairman Ha Sy Dong (standing) speaks at a meeting in the province, central Vietnam, March 14, 2025. Photo courtesy of Quang Tri newspaper. — Quang Tri’s acting Chairman Ha Sy Dong (standing) speaks at a meeting in the province, central Vietnam, March 14, 2025. Photo courtesy of Quang Tri newspaper.

Until 2030, Quang Tri aims to facilitate power import of 2,000 MW from Laos.

Provincial authorities will also facilitate investors of 500 kV, 200 kV, and 100 kV power grid projects, in line with the deployment of wind, solar, gas-fired power, and imported power (from Laos) projects.

Addressing the meeting, Quang Tri’s acting Chairman Ha Sy Dong asked the Department of Industry and Trade to collaborate with investors to complete the applications for in-principle approval by March 20.

He also requested the Department of Finance to finalize the land recovery plan for site clearance by March 25.

Vietnam’s current PDP VIII has 6,000 MW of offshore wind power, including 500 MW in the central-central region.

In February 2025, Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade proposed delaying the development of offshore wind power until after 2030, instead of meeting the initial target of 6,000 MW by 2030.

However, in March 2025, the Government requested that offshore wind power projects under the PDP VIII must complete by 2030.

Project

Manufacturing, processing push up industrial growth in five months

Published

3 hours ago

March 17, 2025

Industrialzone.net

Vietnam’s industrial sector experienced positive growth in the January-May period, with 55 out of 63 provinces and centrally-run cities nationwide reporting annual increases in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

The GSO identified manufacturing, processing, and electricity production and distribution as the primary drivers of the growth. Provinces recording high growth included Phu Tho (31.2%), Bac Giang (24.9%), and Binh Phuoc (14.8%). However, some other provinces like Ha Tinh, Quang Ngai and Ca Mau saw respective declines of 9%, 8.25% and 2.5% in their indexes.

Overall, the national IIP in May continued its upward trajectory, rising 3.9% month-on-month and 8.9% year-on-year. The five-month period saw an yearly increase of 6.8%.

A deeper analysis revealed the processing and manufacturing industries as the key contributor to the growth, boasting a 7.3% rise and adding 6.4 percentage points to the overall increase. The electricity production and distribution sector also performed strongly, with 12.7% growth, contributing 1.1 percentage points. Additionally, the water supply, waste, and wastewater management sector went up 6.3%, adding 0.1 percentage point. However, the mining sector experienced a decline of 5.2%, resulting in a reduction of 0.8 percentage point in the overall growth.

Specific product categories within the processing and manufacturing sectors posted impressive growth. Production of rubber and plastic products surged by 27.4%, while electrical equipment saw a 24% increase. Production of chemicals and chemical products grew by 20.1%, followed by beds, cabinets, tables, and chairs (19.6%) and metal products (13.2%).

In light of these findings, the GSO proposed a series of recommendations to further bolster Vietnam’s industrial development. It urged the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) to prioritise a structural shift toward increasing the proportion of processing and manufacturing industries within the overall industrial sector, while simultaneously reducing reliance on the assembly and processing of imported products; enhance enterprise competitiveness and incentivise the use of domestically produced goods via technical barriers for certain imports.

Additionally, the GSO recommended that the MoIT refine key institutions such as the Key Industrial Law and the Law on Chemicals. Expediting the disbursement of public investment capital and hastening crucial projects in the fields of electricity, oil and gas, manufacturing, processing, and mining are also highlighted as crucial steps.

Head of the GSO’s Industrial and Construction Statistics Department Phi Thi Huong Nga suggested that localities should launch more stimulus and promotion schemes to increase purchasing power while helping industrial firms find partners and expand markets through trade exhibitions.

Project

Massive investments flow into Cam Lam district as airport town to take shape in Vietnam’s Khanh Hoa province

Published

4 hours ago

March 17, 2025

Industrialzone.net

Hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars are flowing into Cam Lam district, providing a major boost for Khanh Hoa as the province in south-central Vietnam accelerates its plans to develop an international-standard airport town.

A corner of Cam Lam district, Khanh Hoa province, south-central Vietnam. Photo by The Investor/Nguyen Tri.

The provincial People’s Committee recently issued decisions to select investors for four large urban complex projects, with a total investment exceeding VND22 trillion ($862.24 million) in Cam Lam district.

The Cam Tan Urban Complex spans over 290 hectares in Cam Tan and Suoi Tan communes, with a projected population of around 4,020 people and a total investment exceeding VND5.73 trillion ($224.6 million).

The Cam Thuong Urban Complex, at the cost of nearing VND6 trillion ($236.9 million), covers nearly 300 hectares in the same two communes and will be home to 4,010 people.

Located in Cam Tan and Cam Hoa communes, the 300-hectare Cam Hoa Urban Complex will have an investment of over VND5.24 trillion ($200 million) and house 4,410 people.

Lastly, the over VND5.1 trillion ($200 million) Suoi Tan Urban Complex, spanning nearly 240 hectares in Suoi Tan commune, will accommodate around 4,020 people.

The provincial People’s Committee also approved a list of projects seeking non-budget investments for the 2025–2030 period, including three projects in Cam Lam.

The most notable is the 10,365-hectare Cam Lam New Urban Area project, with an investment of VND285.3 trillion ($11.18 billion). This major project aims to create a new urban area and world-class entertainment zone, making it one of Khanh Hoa’s flagship initiatives for the 2025–2030 period.

Developing Khanh Hoa’s southern growth pole

Positioned between the coastal towns of Nha Trang and Cam Ranh, Cam Lam benefits from a highly convenient transportation network.

With 13 kilometers of coastlines, the district has attracted significant investment over the past 20 years, leading to the development of numerous resorts that have transformed the area.

In February 2024, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha approved a master plan for the new Cam Lam Urban Area until 2045. The planned area covers the entire administrative boundary of Cam Lam district, totaling over 54,719 hectares (excluding the Thuy Trieu Lagoon area).

Under the master plan, Cam Lam is set to become the southern growth hub of Khanh Hoa and the south-central coastal region, contributing to the province’s ambition to become a centrally governed city. Vietnam currently has six centrally managed cities, namely Hanoi, Hai Phong, Danang, Hue, Ho Chi Minh City, and Can Tho.

The district will be developed into a modern, international-standard airport town, focusing on coastal tourism, logistics services, finance, global innovation, education, healthcare, and cutting-edge research. The goal is to create a high-quality living environment with modern infrastructure.

In August 2024, the Khanh Hoa People’s Committee approved a zoning plan (scale 1/2000) that covers the coastal sub-area, the central urban sub-area, and the northern urban sub-area of the new Cam Lam town.

The central urban sub-area aims to develop a new political-administrative center for Cam Lam, as well as an innovation hub that is part of a larger regional center.

The northern urban sub-area will focus on developing a new urban center, featuring a chain of golf courses, amusement parks, and specialized parks near Cu Hin Mountain.

Meanwhile, the coastal urban sub-area will serve as a tourism, service, and coastal urban zone, acting as the maritime gateway to the new town.

Real estate market recovery

Nguyen Anh Tuan, vice president of the Khanh Hoa Real Estate Brokerage Association, stated that the local real estate market has emerged from its most challenging period and showed clear signs of recovery in 2024.

The market’s recovery is driven by significant improvements in infrastructure and well-planned, long-term development schemes, such as the Nha Trang master plan for 2040 and the Cam Lam airport town master plan through 2045, he noted.

These initiatives have drawn considerable interest from investors, highlighting the region’s sustainable property market growth potential.

“The real estate market in Khanh Hoa, particularly in hotspots like Nha Trang and Cam Lam, has experienced a notable rise in prices over the past year. This surge has created pressure for both homebuyers and new investors, potentially driving property prices to unsustainable levels, which could pose risks to liquidity and long-term value stability,” Tuan added.

With a strong foundation for recovery in 2024, Tuan believed that the local real estate market will continue to grow substantially in 2025, supported by the ongoing improvements in infrastructure.

Notably, key projects such as the Khanh Hoa-Buon Ma Thuot Expressway and the expansion of Cam Ranh Airport will play a pivotal role in stimulating the market and attracting further investment.