As at July 20, total foreign direct investment (FDI) into Vietnam stood at some $21.9 billion, with disbursed capital at $9.05 billion, an increase of 5.8 per cent year-on-year.

Foreign investors invested in 18 sectors in the first seven months, with processing and manufacturing attracting the most, at $10.83 billion, accounting for 49.4 per cent of registered capital during the period.

Electricity production ranked second, with total capital of $5.25 billion and contributing 23.98 per cent of registered capital. Mining was third, with investment of $1.28 billion, accounting for 5.86 per cent of capital.

Ninety-eight countries and territories invested in Vietnam during the period. South Korea led the way, with total capital of $5.62 billion, or 25.63 per cent. Japan was second, with $5.46 billion, or 24.92 per cent, followed by Singapore with $3.8 billion, or 17.3 per cent.

Foreign investment went to 60 cities and provinces in the period. North-central Thanh Hoa province attracted the most, with a $2.7 billion electricity project bringing its total to $3.06 billion, accounting for 13.9 per cent of the country’s total. Northern Bac Ninh followed, with $2.95 billion, accounting for 13.48 per cent, then northern Nam Dinh province with $2.2 billion, or 10 per cent.

Large projects licensed in the first seven months of the year included the coal-fired power plant from a Japanese investor in Thanh Hoa province worth $2.793 billion, a Samsung Display Vietnam project in Bac Ninh province adding capital of $2.5 billion, a coal-fired power plant from a Singaporean investor in Nam Dinh with $2.07 billion in investment, and a gas pipeline project from a joint venture between a Japanese investor and PetroVietnam with registered capital of $1.27 billion.

Exports by the foreign-invested sector (including crude oil) in the first seven months was $83.05 billion, up 20.3 per cent year-on-year and accounting for 72 per cent of export turnover. Excluding crude oil, exports by the foreign-invested sector were $81.26 billion, up 20 per cent year-on-year and accounting for 70.53 per cent of total export turnover.

Imports by the foreign-invested sector in the period were $71.35 billion, up 28.1 per cent and accounting for 60.3 per cent of all import turnover. The sector therefore recorded a trade surplus of $11.69 billion (including crude oil) and $9.9 billion (excluding crude oil).