GDP growth of 8.18% is a positive foundation, but the pressure in the second half of the year is still very high

Thạch Lam |

The GDP growth rate of 8.18% in the first half of the year creates a positive foundation for the whole year of 2026. However, to complete the GDP growth target of about 10% in the whole year of 2026, the pressure for the last two quarters of the year is very high.

Processing and manufacturing industry maintains its "leading" role

Assessing GDP in the first 6 months of the year, Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai Hanh - Head of the National Accounting System Department (Statistics Department, Ministry of Finance) - said that this is a fairly impressive growth result in the context of the world economy continuing to be unstable and many risks increasing.

Analyzing in detail the growth in Q2 and 6 months of economic sectors, Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai Hanh said that the agriculture, forestry and fishery sector increased by 4.06% and 3.87%; the industry and construction sector increased by 10.51% and 9.81%; the service sector increased by 7.87% and 8.09%. "This result shows that the economy continues to recover, maintaining a relatively stable growth rate, reflecting great efforts in management and the spirit of overcoming difficulties of the entire economy" - Ms. Hanh assessed.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai Hanh, the agriculture, forestry and fishery sector continued its stable and positive growth momentum in most fields thanks to effective economic restructuring solutions. The industry and construction sector continued to be an important growth engine, in which the processing and manufacturing industry maintained its role as the "leading force" with Q2 growth of 10.56% and the first 6 months of the year of 10.23%, making the largest contribution to overall growth. In the service sector, the growth of the service sector in Q2 was greatly affected by increased input prices.

Public investment still has much room

Assessing the growth rate of 8.18% in the first 6 months of the year, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thuong Lang - an economic expert - said that this is a positive foundation, but to complete the GDP growth target of about 10% in the whole year of 2026, the pressure for the last two quarters of the year is very large.

The economy is having many supporting drivers such as public investment being promoted, the processing and manufacturing industry maintaining double-digit growth, domestic consumption recovering and FDI capital flows continuing to be positive. However, growth potential still depends significantly on world economic developments, demand in major export markets as well as the ability to respond to trade and geopolitical risks" - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thuong Lang said.

To achieve the growth target for the whole year, it is necessary to continue to promote the effectiveness of traditional drivers, and at the same time create breakthroughs in new drivers. In which, public investment disbursement still has great room and must be accelerated further, especially key infrastructure projects. For the private sector, difficulties in accessing capital, land and investment procedures need to be removed to expand production and business.

Policies to stimulate consumer demand, promote tourism, develop the digital economy, innovation and green transformation need to be implemented synchronously to create more room for growth. At the same time, it is necessary to effectively utilize free trade agreements to diversify export markets and reduce dependence on some traditional markets.

In addition, according to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thuong Lang, promoting the effective implementation of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation is expected to create new growth momentum, help improve the productivity of aggregate factors, promote the formation of new economic sectors and increase the competitiveness of the economy. Along with that, the development of the carbon market, green economy and energy transition will also open up room for growth in the coming time.

Previously, in April 2026, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecast that Vietnam's economy would grow by 7.2% in 2026 and 7% in 2027. These forecasts were built according to the scenario that the conflict situation in the Middle East would soon stabilize, but still face a very high level of instability.

Thạch Lam
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