Highlights of economic indicators in 2018

Vietnamese economy expanded 7.08% this year, the highest figure recorded since 2008.

Agricultural-aquaculture-forestry, industry-construction and service sectors grew by 3.76%, 8.85% and 7.03% respectively in 2018. 

Viet Nam’s export and import values in 2018 rose 13.8% and 11.5% respectively against the previous year. The nation enjoyed the trade surplus of US$7.2 billion in 2018.

In 2018, as many as 29 items joined the US$1 billion export value club, making up 91.7% of the nation’s total export value. A total number of nine items enjoyed the export value exceeding US$5 billion and five ones recorded the export value over US$10 billion.

Viet Nam’s exports to key markets in 2018 witnessed high growth such as the U.S. up 14.2%, EU up 11%, China up 18.5%, ASEAN up 13.7%, Japan up 12.9% and the Republic of Korea up 23.2%.  

China and the Republic of Korea were the largest importers of Viet Nam in 2018 with respective growth of 12.3% and 2%.

Foreign investment inflows to Viet Nam in 2018 reached US$25.573 billion, a decrease of 13.9% against the previous year while the FDI disbursement rose 9.1% compared to US$19.1 billion.

The manufacturing and processing took the lead in attracting FDI in 2018 with US$14.161 billion, followed by the real estate US$5.944 billion and other sectors with US$5.467 billion.

The capital city of Ha Noi ranked first in attracting FDI among 54 provinces and cities receiving FDI in 2018.

Japan was the largest investor in Viet Nam in 2018, making up 36.7%.

Viet Nam welcomed 15.5 million foreign visitors in 2018, an increase of 19.9% against the previous year.

A total number of 131,275 new firms were set up in 2018 with the total registered capital of VND1.478 trillion while the number of firms temporarily stopped operating in the year increased nearly 50% against the previous year, recording at 90,651 ones.