Vietnam: Industrial output grows at quickest pace in three years in January
Industrial production expanded 22.2% year-on-year in January (December: +8.2% yoy). January’s print marked the strongest increase since January 2018. The rise was largely due to faster growth in manufacturing output. In addition, electricity production also gained steam.
Meanwhile, the trend improved significantly, with the annual average growth of industrial production coming in at plus 5.1%, up notably from December’s 2.6% reading.
This year, industrial production should pick up pace from 2020’s slowdown as economic activity recovers in key international markets. Moreover, the underlying strength of Vietnam’s industrial sector remains intact despite Covid-19: Vietnam is an attractive low-cost base for manufacturing firms, including those looking to relocate from China due to the U.S.-China trade tensions. However, uncertainty regarding the evolution of the pandemic and the rollout of vaccines across key international markets clouds the outlook.