VIETNAM’S gross domestic product (GDP) growth slowed further this year, government data showed yesterday, even as the fourth quarter improved and robust exports helped partially offset some of the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Southeast Asian country’s GDP grew 2.58 percent this year, slipping from a 2.91 percent expansion in 2020, the General Statistics Office (GSO) said.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has left a serious impact on all aspects of the economy,” the GSO said in a statement.

On a quarterly basis, Vietnam’s economy recovered strongly in the fourth quarter, after authorities started lifting most coronavirus mobility restrictions in October.

GDP grew 5.22 percent in the fourth quarter from a year ago, rebounding from a contraction of 6.02 percent in the third quarter.

The GSO traditionally releases data before the end of the reporting period and its data are often subject to revision.

Vietnam’s exports are estimated to have risen 19 percent this year to US$336.25 billion, while its industrial output increased 4.8 percent, according to the GSO. (SD-Agencies)