An ongoing rise in Vietnam's rice price is the continuation of a trend that began last year when Chinese and Indonesian importers upped their consumption of the Vietnamese staple. Statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development indicated that Vietnam exported an estimated 900,000 tonnes of rice worth VND11.3 trillion (US$480 million) in March, taking the total volume and value of rice exports in the first three months of the year to 1.79 million tonnes and VND22.3 trillion ($952 million), respectively. While the total value of Vietnamese rice exports surged 30 percent against the same period last year, the volume fell 19 percent. From January to March, Vietnam’s rice export price averaged VND12.5 million ($531) per tonne, up 9.2 percent year on year. During the first two months of 2023, Vietnam shipped 401,980 tonnes of rice valued at VND4.8 trillion ($204.69 million) to the Philippines, making the archipelago Vietnam’s largest rice buyer, accounting for 43 … [Read more...] about Export price of Vietnamese rice on the rise
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New strategic orientations for Petrolimex suggested
Tran Tuan Anh, who is also head of the Steering Committee for the building of a project on reviewing the implementation of the Politburo’s Resolution on the strategic orientations for the development of the Vietnamese petroleum industry by 2025, with a vision to 2035, asked delegates to discuss Petrolimex’s production and trade situation since the issuance of the Resolution, focusing on shortcomings, difficulties, their causes and suggestions regarding policies, mechanisms, legal regulations, particularly petrol price and market management, investment procedures, business development, national petroleum reserve as well as the construction, management, and operation of warehouse-port system. He asked for clarifying the restructuring of Petrolimex in line with divestment and equitization roadmap, and major orientations to international cooperation with strategic partners associated with the production, processing and distribution of new and clean energy products. Chairman of … [Read more...] about New strategic orientations for Petrolimex suggested
Worst over for industry: Hoa Phat Steel chairman
"In 2022 the steel industry was going through a difficult cycle. I predicted this at last year's meeting, and honestly it was worse than expected," he said at the 2023 annual general meeting on Thursday. "However, the most difficult period has passed, and the internal strength of Hoa Phat in particular is good, and now it completely depends on the demand side." Steel is an industry that depends on the real estate market and the government's public spending policy. Long said now "everything is very slow." Hoa Phat's January and February results were negative, but the losses were lower than the management had feared, he said. Things have been better in March, he said without providing figures, but promised to announce them at the end of April. Asked about his past assertion that "Hoa Phat cannot make steel forever," he said that applied for the long term and is a path that all large corporations must tread, but not easy to implement in the short term. "In theory, it is … [Read more...] about Worst over for industry: Hoa Phat Steel chairman
Hanoi plans new rules on parking
As of March 25, the municipal administration had imposed fines totaling VND50.5 billion ($2.15 million) for infractions on the pavement. Hanoi's authorities will make public the guidelines on the streets and roads where drivers can park their cars, Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Duong Duc Tuan has said. A local police officer travels to check on the station of motorbikes on the streets of Hanoi. Photo: Cong Trinh/The Hanoi Times There will be a new list of streets and roads on which the city forbids the parking of motorbikes and cars, Tuan told an online meeting of the Hanoi Party Committee, the Hanoi People’s Council, the Hanoi People’s Committee, and chiefs of the 30 districts and towns. The city's legislators will also modify the regulations governing vehicle parking, instructing local governments to reserve a specific portion of the pavement for parking motorcycles and bicycles only, he said. The vice chairman added that substantial … [Read more...] about Hanoi plans new rules on parking
Vietnam expected to export 7 million tons of rice this year: Ministry
Vietnam now sees a sharp increase in rice orders from the Philippines and China. Acccording to Pham Thai Binh, General Director of Trung An Hi-tech Agriculture Joint Stock Company in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, the company has signed an order to export 2,000 tonnes of rice to China and is under negotiation for another batch of 20,000 tons. Statistics from the General Administration of Vietnam Customs show that in the first two months of this year, China imported 152,640 tons of rice from Vietnam worth 90 million USD, a year-on-year increase of 86% in volume and 120% in value. Vietnamese rice exported to China enjoyed an average price of 589.7 USD per ton, 18.3% higher than that of the same period last year. Chinese customers mainly imported Vietnam’s high-quality rice like fragrant rice and sticky rice with high prices. Meanwhile, the Philippines is anticipated to import about 2.8 million tons of rice from Vietnam during the 2022-2023 crop because the country’s rice … [Read more...] about Vietnam expected to export 7 million tons of rice this year: Ministry
Central bank to cut deposit interest rate ceiling from Monday
It said the overnight electronic interbank rate would also be kept at the current level of 6.0%. The bank also said it will from Monday lower its refinance rate by 50 basis points to 5.5%, its latest move to support economic growth that bucks a trend among regional peers. The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) said in a statement it would keep the discount rate unchanged at 3.5%. Earlier this month, the SBV cut several policy rates to increase liquidity and help spur growth, in what was a surprise move amid global financial turmoil. The announcement came just hours after a senior central bank official said the U.S. Federal Reserve's move to ease its rate hikes meant Vietnam would consider further cutting rates in future to spur growth. Vietnam's economic growth slowed to 3.32% in the first quarter, against a 5.92% expansion in the fourth quarter of 2022. The SBV pledged on Friday to keep monetary policy flexible for the rest of the year to support economic stability amid … [Read more...] about Central bank to cut deposit interest rate ceiling from Monday
Vietnamese steel industry calling for wider investment from overseas entities
Vietnamese steel industry calling for wider investment from overseas entities, photo Le Toan Posco Yamato Vina Steel JSC, a joint venture between South Korea’s Pohang Iron and Steel Company and Japan’s Yamato Holdings, is contemplating constructing a second facility in Vietnam. Lee Youngwoo, general manager of Posco Yamato Vina, wants to “establish a robust sales network” across Vietnam while enhancing scrap supply security. In 2020, Posco Yamato Vina was the first to manufacture wide H-shaped steel in Vietnam. According to Lee, the business built a representative office in Haiphong last year in order to “create additional prospects for collaboration” with clients. In the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Posco Yamato Vina operates a steel mill with a capacity of one million metric tonnes per year and produces section steel with a capacity of 500,000 tonnes per year. Following a lack of foreign investment in steel manufacturing in recent years, many observers see Posco … [Read more...] about Vietnamese steel industry calling for wider investment from overseas entities
Vietnam, Italy agree on orientations to enhance Strategic Partnership
Vietnam ese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (R) and Italian Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Maria Tripodi (Photo: VNA) Rome (VNA) – Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang and Italian Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Maria Tripodi co-chaired the fifth political consultation between the two ministries to discuss orientations to promote the bilateral Strategic Partnership in the coming time. The two sides expressed their delight that the consultation was held on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic ties, and the 10th founding anniversary of the Strategic Partnership. They highly appreciated outstanding results in bilateral economic cooperation with the two countries becoming each other's important trading partner in the region. Two-way trade reached more than 6.2 billion USD in 2022, up 11% year-on-year, thanks to … [Read more...] about Vietnam, Italy agree on orientations to enhance Strategic Partnership
ASEAN leader vows to support efforts against regional haze pollution
Bangkok (VNA) – Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Kao Kim Hourn has pledged to support efforts to combat transboundary haze pollution in the region. Hazardous haze affecting several ASEAN member countries was one of the issues discussed by the ASEAN leader and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha during their meeting in Bangkok on March 30 as part of the former’s ongoing visit to Thailand from March 29 to April 1. The Thai PM underlined that transboundary haze crisis has posed a serious regional challenge that needs an urgent solution The problem has caused a health hazard and disruption to tourism not only in Thailand but also in neighbouring countries, he said, asking for the ASEAN leader’s coordinate efforts to tackle the problem and hold an urgent meeting with member countries to discuss a solution, particularly measures to reduce hotspots in the region. ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn agreed that the issue needs to be … [Read more...] about ASEAN leader vows to support efforts against regional haze pollution
Thailand beats Q1 tourism target with 6.15 mln arrivals
Thailand beats Q1 tourism target with 6.15 mln arrivals. (Photo: skift.com) Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand beat its target for tourist arrivals of 6 million arrivals in the first quarter, reaching 6.15 million in the January to March 27 period, government spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul said on March 29. Traisuree said the government urged hospitality businesses, especially hotels and restaurants, to charge prices after they were seen doubling at some outlets as more tourists arrived. According to Chamnan Srisawat, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, at least 30 million tourists are expected to visit the country this year and spend 1.5 trillion THB (43.74 billion USD). Meanwhile, the government estimates between 25 million and 30 million arrivals for the full year. Tourism is a key driver of Thailand's economy, accounting for 12% of GDP before the COVID-19 pandemic./. VNA … [Read more...] about Thailand beats Q1 tourism target with 6.15 mln arrivals