Vietnam's manufacturing PMI: 51.4 in November
The rate of improvement in Vietnamese manufacturing business conditions continued to soften in November.
New order growth slowed, while production stagnated. The rate of job creation remained solid, however, and companies were still confident regarding output growth over the coming year. Meanwhile, there were reports of raw material supply shortages affecting operations.
These contributed to longer delivery times for inputs and a reduction in stocks of purchases, while also being mentioned as a factor behind the lack of production growth. The headline Nikkei Vietnam Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) – a composite single-figure indicator of manufacturing performance – dipped to 51.4 in November from 51.6 in October (A reading above 50 indicates economic expansion, while one below 50 points toward contraction). Although continuing to signal an improvement in the health of the manufacturing sector, the rate at which business conditions strengthened was the weakest since March 2016.
"The final quarter of 2017 has been somewhat disappointing for the Vietnamese manufacturing sector so far," said Andrew Harker, associate director at IHS Markit, which compiles the survey.
"After growth eased in October, there were further signs of weakness in November as new orders rose at a weaker pace and output stagnated. Manufacturers continued to increase staffing levels and purchasing activity at solid rates, however, suggesting that the current soft-patch is expected to be only temporary," he added.
The rate of new order growth eased for the second month running in November, with slower increases in both total and export orders. That said, new business has now risen on a monthly basis throughout the past two years. While new orders continued to rise, the weaker expansion resulted in manufacturers holding production volumes broadly steady. The stagnation in output ended a 12-month sequence of growth. There were some reports that material shortages had restricted production. With output broadly unchanged, stocks of finished goods decreased for the fifth month running.
The slowdown in new order growth enabled firms to work through backlogged work over the month. Outstanding business decreased for the first time in five months, and at a solid pace that was the fastest since June 2016. In spite of a stagnation in output and slower growth of new orders, manufacturers continued to take on extra staff at a solid pace. The rate of job creation was broadly in line with that seen in October.
Firms also remained confident regarding the 12- month outlook for production, with predictions of new order growth central to positive forecasts. A further sharp increase in input costs was recorded during November amid higher prices for raw materials. The rise in input costs led firms to raise their own selling prices, the third month running in which this has been the case. Supply shortages were mentioned by those panelists that recorded a lengthening of vendor lead times in November. Delivery times lengthened for the tenth consecutive month, and to the greatest extent since April.
Difficulties in sourcing raw materials were also reportedly a factor behind a drop in stocks of purchases. Pre-production inventories decreased for the first time in 17 months. This was despite a further solid increase in purchasing activity. Input buying has risen on a monthly basis throughout the past two years, with panelists partly linking the latest expansion to efforts to support inventory levels.
20:19, 2024/04/28
Cooperation and investment: key to effective tourism promotion in Vietnam
The tourism industry has developed action programs and organized promotional and advertising activities for the coming period.
20:31, 2024/04/24
IT training urged to focus on semiconductors
With an abundant labor supply and a skilled workforce, human resources are Vietnam's greatest and most prominent advantage over other countries.
18:27, 2024/04/21
Hanoi Great Souvenir Fair 2024 to take place next week
Thousands of local and international tourists and business visitors will be in attendance.
18:24, 2024/04/21
As orders rise, Vietnamese textile firms see better prospects in 2024
In the face of unpredictable volatility, Vietnam's companies are investing in technology, innovation and production to meet the targets they have set themselves, whilst keeping a close eye on market trends.
17:38, 2024/04/21
C.bank to auction nearly 17,000 gold taels on April 22
The return of gold auctioning after more than 10 years is expected to bring gold prices closer to the global levels.
11:10, 2024/04/19
Trade ministry proposes purchasing renewable electricity mechanisms without EVN’s involvement
The draft decree stipulates that buyers must be organizations or individuals using electricity for production from a voltage level of 22 kV or higher, with an average monthly consumption of 500,000 kWh.
- Australia and Vietnam develop competitive electricity markets
- Vietnam, Thailand advance realization of “Three Connections” strategy
- Vietnamese Gov’t to expand list of electricity buyers under direct power agreement scheme
- Viettel opens largest data center in Vietnam to support AI development
- Vietnam’s economy expected to grow at solid pace in 2024-2025: ADB
- Apartment prices in Hanoi are closing in on those in Ho Chi Minh City