FDI flow into Vietnam reaches US$13.9 billion in five months

The total foreign direct investment (FDI) into Vietnam between the beginning of this year and May 20 reached US$13.9 billion, down 17% over the same period last year.

A worker inspects materials for producing solar batteries at JA Solar Vietnam Co., Ltd. in Quang Chau Industrial Park, Bac Giang Province. (Photo: VNA)
A worker inspects materials for producing solar batteries at JA Solar Vietnam Co., Ltd. in Quang Chau Industrial Park, Bac Giang Province. (Photo: VNA)

The General Statistics Office of Vietnam (GSO) on May 29 announced that there were 1,212 newly licenced projects during the Jan-May period, with registered capital of US$7.4 billion, down 11.1% on the number of projects and up 15.2% in registered capital against the same period last year.

There were 436 licenced projects from previous years registered to adjust investment capital with additional capital of US$3.5 billion, up 31.4%.

During the five-month period, 3,528 foreign investors contributed capital and purchased shares with a total value of nearly US$3 billion, down 60.9%.

FDI disbursement in the first five months this year was estimated at US$6.7 billion, down 8.2% over the same period last year, of which over US$4.9 billion was in the processing and manufacturing industry, accounting for 73.6% of the total.

During the period, the production and distribution of electricity, gas, hot water, steam and air conditioners witnessed the largest volume of newly licenced FDI projects, reaching US$4 billion, accounting for 53.8% of total newly registered capital. It was followed by the processing and manufacturing industry, with US$2.8 billion, accounting for 37%. The remaining industries attracted US$685.3 million, accounting for 9.2%.

Among the 58 countries and territories registering new projects in Vietnam in the first five months, Singapore was the largest investor, with US$4.3 billion, accounting for 58% of the total, followed by Taiwan (China) with US$743 million (10%), China with US$694 million (9.3%), Hong Kong (China) with US$500 million (6.7%), the Republic of Korea with US$441 million (5.9%) and Japan with US$221 million (3%).

The GSO also revealed that Vietnamese investors had 60 new projects abroad in the period, with total capital of US$161.9 million. They also poured an additional US$18.8 million into eleven existing projects.

Generally, Vietnam's total investment abroad (both newly and additionally granted capital) in the five-month period reached US$180.7 million, equalling 98.7% of the same period last year, of which the processing and manufacturing industry accounted for the most with US$100.5 million (55.6%).

Local investors poured their investments into 21 countries and territories during the period, with Germany being the largest recipient with US$92.6 million (51.3%), followed by the US with US$21.7 million (12%), Myanmar with US$21.2 million (11.7%), and Singapore with US$18.9 million (10.5%).