Based on the latest macroeconomic data from Vietnam and the US, can you provide some forecast scenarios for exchange rates, interest rates, and inflation in the second half of 2024?

For Vietnam, we expect the exchange rate to remain volatile, mainly due to the uncertainty of US Fed policy ahead. While the market has dialled down the possibility of Fed rate cuts in 2024, our current forecast is for two Fed rate cuts to take place in the second half of 2024.

Rate cuts will put some downward pressure on the US dollar and hence VND to appreciate. Currently, our forecast for the VND is to strengthen towards 24,800-25,000 per USD by the end of the year.

In Vietnam, we anticipate the interest rate policy to stay steady for now as the State Bank of Vietnam will proceed cautiously given the uncertain external environment. This is in part to fend off depreciation pressures on the VND and also in response to inflation pressures in Vietnam, with the CPI headline is inching towards the central bank’s target of 4.5 per cent (4.03 per cent on-year in first five months of 2024).

The main driver of Vietnam inflation in recent months has been food price increases which are likely to be due to global supply chain disruptions in the Red Sea area, as well as adverse weather/climate which impacted crop yields, just as domestic demand is on a recovery phase.

Moving towards 2025, what factors do you expect to drive growth or recovery for the Vietnamese economy?

For Vietnam, exports and investment inflows, along with tourism and domestic consumption, will remain the key growth drivers in the next 6-12 months.

Recent statistics on trade, foreign direct investment (FDI) and tourism very much affirm such development. In the year to date, total exports and imports rose 22.6 per cent on-year to $305.53 billion, with both exports and imports rising double-digit on-year (15.2 per cent and 18.2 per cent respectively).

Foreign investing inflows came in at the highest in five years, at $8.3 billion in the first five months of 2024, reinforcing the view that companies remain confident of Vietnam remaining competitive and of future demand for their products.

Conversely, what risks should be monitored as potential black swan events for the global economy?

Geopolitical risks will continue a major unknown, particularly in the Middle East and also Eastern Europe, as shipping routes as essential commodities including oil, agricultural products among others are vulnerable to disruptions in those areas.

As such, countries and companies need to take pre-emptive risk management actions to counter these and other surprises, including hedging for exchange rate and other market volatilities, diversifying export markets and import sources to ensure minimal impact from disruptions in supply chains, and maintaining strong and close relations with neighbouring countries/markets to ensure stability and support.

Which sectors do you believe will show notable recovery in the second half of 2024 and early 2025, and why?

Manufacturing sectors and related exports goods will be the bright spots for Vietnam in the next 6-12 months. With the US economy staying resilient, demand will be supported.

The latest export data shows that demand for Vietnam’s exports continues to be optimistic, as seven main exports categories (electronics, computers, components, mobile phones, garments/textiles, footwear, and timber) accounted for 65 per cent of total export revenue in January to May 2024.

These will be areas of competitive advantage for the manufacturing and exports sector in Vietnam, and the momentum is expected to carry on through to 2025.