VIETNAM COUNTRY CREDIT INSURANCE MARKET & RISKS
September, 2015
I. - Country Overview
Vietnam’s economy continues to grow and expanding at an average of 6.0%+ with all sectors attracting strong foreign direct investment especially manufacturing exports.
Vietnam has entered into a number of free trade agreements (FTAs) as well as the prospects offered by the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will serve to keep Vietnam’s economic growth momentum driving forward as well as an attractive destination for FDI in the medium to long term and will strongly enhance the manufacturing sector further.
However, Vietnam being one of the key manufacturing beneficiary under TPP, with hopes for finalisation to significantly boost overall GDP were quickly dashed by the new US administration retreat from TPP, and is anticipated to create a sizeable negative impact upon country.
- GENERAL INFORMATION
- Population is 95,584,286 (2017)
- Area 331,210 sq km
- GDP US$ 215.9 billion (2017, estimate)
- GDP - composition by sector: (2016, estimate)
- Agriculture: 17%
- Industry: 39%
- Services: 44%
- AGRICULTURE :
- Rice, coffee, rubber, tea, pepper, soybeans, cashews, sugar cane, peanuts, bananas; poultry; fish, seafood
- INDUSTRIES
- Food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building; mining, coal, steel; cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, mobile phones
- NATURAL HAZARDS:
- Occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding, especially in the Mekong River delta
Vietnam’s economy continues to grow and expanding at an average of 6.0%+ with all sectors attracting strong foreign direct investment especially manufacturing exports.
Vietnam has entered into a number of free trade agreements (FTAs) as well as the prospects offered by the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will serve to keep Vietnam’s economic growth momentum driving forward as well as an attractive destination for FDI in the medium to long term and will strongly enhance the manufacturing sector further.
However, Vietnam being one of the key manufacturing beneficiary under TPP, with hopes for finalisation to significantly boost overall GDP were quickly dashed by the new US administration retreat from TPP, and is anticipated to create a sizeable negative impact upon country.
The above represent growth numbers that exceeds many territories with Vietnam becoming a major hub for manufacturing. Global manufacturing companies have set up production facilities in Vietnam, and inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) remain strong. Vietnam is benefiting from the China + 1 policy as companies seek hedging against geopolitical issues of having “all the eggs in one basket”.
However, there are many macro challenges to sustainable growth. Whilst investors in the manufacturing sector have boosted exports, there has also been major in importations. This continues to be a sign that domestic satellite industries remain weak and are often reliance upon valued added components to support production of exported goods. Due to this, Vietnam have again returned to a trade deficit situation.
Economists are also expressing concerns upon Vietnam’s heavy dependence on FDI which accounted for 71 percent of total export turnover and 59 percent of total import turnover in 2015. Vietnam’s domestic SMEs continues to lag strongly behind their FDI counterparts in the “value added” growth story due management, technical and industrial capability and capacity.
Furthermore, the banking sector which has been plagued by bad loans. The government have taken measures to manage these bad debts, however, key “proximate cause” problems remain at resolving the issue due to dependency upon large and wholly inefficient state-owned enterprises (SOEs) which make up the most of the “bad credits”
Last but not least, rampant corruption as judged by ongoing high profile cases, coupled with an opaque laws and regulations hamper the overall business environment.
III. - Trade Imports & Exports:
Vietnam’s key export products all saw year-on-year increases, ranging from mobile, telephone and accessories, garments and textiles, machineries equipment, tools, spare parts, seafood and agricultural produce. Total export for 2016 was circa. USD 180 Billion.
Vietnam's imports are also increasing with the vast majority of Vietnamese imports are for production materials and equipment used to produce exports. Approximately 10% of the imports turnover are for consumer and luxury goods. Total import for 2016 was circa. USD 190 Billion.
However, there are many macro challenges to sustainable growth. Whilst investors in the manufacturing sector have boosted exports, there has also been major in importations. This continues to be a sign that domestic satellite industries remain weak and are often reliance upon valued added components to support production of exported goods. Due to this, Vietnam have again returned to a trade deficit situation.
Economists are also expressing concerns upon Vietnam’s heavy dependence on FDI which accounted for 71 percent of total export turnover and 59 percent of total import turnover in 2015. Vietnam’s domestic SMEs continues to lag strongly behind their FDI counterparts in the “value added” growth story due management, technical and industrial capability and capacity.
Furthermore, the banking sector which has been plagued by bad loans. The government have taken measures to manage these bad debts, however, key “proximate cause” problems remain at resolving the issue due to dependency upon large and wholly inefficient state-owned enterprises (SOEs) which make up the most of the “bad credits”
Last but not least, rampant corruption as judged by ongoing high profile cases, coupled with an opaque laws and regulations hamper the overall business environment.
III. - Trade Imports & Exports:
Vietnam’s key export products all saw year-on-year increases, ranging from mobile, telephone and accessories, garments and textiles, machineries equipment, tools, spare parts, seafood and agricultural produce. Total export for 2016 was circa. USD 180 Billion.
Vietnam's imports are also increasing with the vast majority of Vietnamese imports are for production materials and equipment used to produce exports. Approximately 10% of the imports turnover are for consumer and luxury goods. Total import for 2016 was circa. USD 190 Billion.
IV. - What are the main risks?
Country Macro Risks
As mentioned above, the country still face several major challenges as follows:
Country Credit Insurance Market & Risks
The Vietnam insurance market has only five non-life insurance companies offering credit insurance namely AIG, QBE, Atradius, Coface, Euler Hermes with the latter three via appointed local underwriting partners due to Vietnam having local admitted policy regulations in place.
Many of these underwriters remain keen to write both export and domestic credit, however, development of awareness and resultant take-up rate has been an uphill “struggle”.
Official entry into the Ministry of Finance, Insurance Department for Credit & Financial Risks for 2016 shows net written premium remain significantly low at circa USD1m. This figure may not include global accounts where premiums are not debited locally. We do, however, believe the figures are growing on global accounts and overseas placements in Singapore, Hong Kong and in Europe.
Loca loss ratio for the class, in the same entry, also shows an amount of circa. 19%.
The Vietnam bankruptcy law only went into effect in 2015 and publicly available information on bankruptcy figures remain elusive and unreliable. An extract from the chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Industry and Commerce (VCCI), in 2015 gave some hints
Credit Insurance Opportunities
AEGIS remain positive on the long term outlook for credit insurance in Vietnam and we remain committed to be a key player and pioneer in the development of this product in the country.
With low rates of penetration coupled with the country being a major export hub now and going forward we believe there will come a point where the commercial sector and exporters will see the significant benefits offered by credit insurance and its associated trade credit facilitation and services.
We have always been at the forefront of product innovation, introduction and delivery in our marketplace and we stand ready to offer, hold-hands with our customers, and help them navigate through the understanding and value that credit risk management and insurance brings to their business now and the future.
Country Macro Risks
As mentioned above, the country still face several major challenges as follows:
- State budget risks continue to rise as public debts mounts;
- Banking sector risks where debt reforms are moving at a snail’s pace thus macro credit risks remain very high;
- State-owned enterprises severely underperforming and a major weakness in the overall economy as well as being insufficient whilst “sucking away” much needed capital that could be injected into other better private sector; and
- Geopolitical Risks remain extremely high due to sovereignty disputes over resources and islands in the Eastern Sea (South China Sea)
Country Credit Insurance Market & Risks
The Vietnam insurance market has only five non-life insurance companies offering credit insurance namely AIG, QBE, Atradius, Coface, Euler Hermes with the latter three via appointed local underwriting partners due to Vietnam having local admitted policy regulations in place.
Many of these underwriters remain keen to write both export and domestic credit, however, development of awareness and resultant take-up rate has been an uphill “struggle”.
Official entry into the Ministry of Finance, Insurance Department for Credit & Financial Risks for 2016 shows net written premium remain significantly low at circa USD1m. This figure may not include global accounts where premiums are not debited locally. We do, however, believe the figures are growing on global accounts and overseas placements in Singapore, Hong Kong and in Europe.
Loca loss ratio for the class, in the same entry, also shows an amount of circa. 19%.
The Vietnam bankruptcy law only went into effect in 2015 and publicly available information on bankruptcy figures remain elusive and unreliable. An extract from the chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Industry and Commerce (VCCI), in 2015 gave some hints
- “...more than 60 percent of more than 500,000 businesses in operation are barely breaking even or facing losses.”
- “...More than 54,000 businesses went bankrupt, shut down or were suspended this year, down from previous years but still “pretty high,”
Credit Insurance Opportunities
AEGIS remain positive on the long term outlook for credit insurance in Vietnam and we remain committed to be a key player and pioneer in the development of this product in the country.
With low rates of penetration coupled with the country being a major export hub now and going forward we believe there will come a point where the commercial sector and exporters will see the significant benefits offered by credit insurance and its associated trade credit facilitation and services.
We have always been at the forefront of product innovation, introduction and delivery in our marketplace and we stand ready to offer, hold-hands with our customers, and help them navigate through the understanding and value that credit risk management and insurance brings to their business now and the future.