Vietnam's FDI inflows top $50 billion in first nine months of this year, up 76% year on year

【Hanoi, Vietnam—Correspondent Kim Jun-seok】As large volumes of foreign direct investment (FDI) flow into Vietnam, cumulative registered FDI through September this year exceeded $50 billion. That was a 76% increase from the same period last year, while actual disbursements also reached their highest level in the past five years.
According to local media reports on the 6th, the Statistics Department of Vietnam's Ministry of Finance said in a recently released report on the country's social and economic situation that FDI inflows to Vietnam continued to grow markedly through September this year.
As of September 30, Vietnam's registered FDI totaled $50.36 billion (about 67 trillion won), up 76.4% from the same period a year earlier. Of that, there were 3,108 new projects, with newly registered investment totaling $29.24 billion (about 39 trillion won). The number of projects rose 6.2% year on year, while registered capital grew 2.4-fold.
By sector, manufacturing and processing attracted the most investment, at $13.38 billion (about 17 trillion won; 45.8%). Transportation and warehousing followed with $5.14 billion (about 690 billion won; 17.6%), while other industries accounted for $10.71 billion (about 14 trillion won; 36.6%).
By source of investment, Singapore ranked first among the 79 countries and regions whose investors received approval for new investments in Vietnam through September 2026, with $9.26 billion (about 12 trillion won; 31.7%). South Korea retained its position as the second-largest investor, with $5.7 billion (about 760 billion won; 19.5%).
Luxembourg followed with $4.99 billion (about 670 billion won; 17.1%), then Hong Kong with $3.01 billion (about 4 trillion won; 10.3%), China with $2.27 billion (about 3 trillion won; 7.8%), Japan with $1.56 billion (about 2 trillion won; 5.3%), and the Netherlands with $438.5 million (about 589 billion won; 1.5%).
Expansion investments by companies already operating in Vietnam were also brisk. A total of $14.15 billion (about 19 trillion won) was added to 948 existing projects, up 25.1% from the same period a year earlier.
In sector totals combining new and expanded investments, manufacturing and processing accounted for more than half of the total, at $21.82 billion (about 29 trillion won; 50.3%). The real estate sector ranked second with $6.94 billion (about 9 trillion won; 16%).
Investments made through equity acquisitions and capital contributions totaled 2,335 transactions, with a combined investment of $6.97 billion (about 936.34 billion won), up 44% year on year. Professional, scientific and technical activities received the most, at $2.75 billion (about 3 trillion won; 39.5%), followed by wholesale and retail trade and the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, at $2.02 billion (about 2 trillion won; 28.9%).
FDI disbursements over the nine months totaled about $21.07 billion (about 2.83054 trillion won), up 12.1% from the same period a year earlier. This was the highest nine-month disbursement figure in the past five years.
By disbursements, manufacturing and processing again accounted for an overwhelming share, at $17.4 billion (about 23 trillion won; 82.6%). The real estate sector followed with $1.59 billion (about 213.6 billion won; 7.5%), and electricity, gas and air-conditioning supply with $723.4 million (about 971.8 billion won; 3.4%).
[email protected] Kim Jun-seok Reporter