State-owned enterprises saw a rise of 11.8 percent over the same period last year, non State-owned businesses, 37.2 percent and foreign-invested businesses, 19.9 percent.

GSO officials attributed the strong increase in industrial value to a rise in domestic consumption prior to the lunar New Year (Tet) Festival, which falls on February 7.

Industries recording high growth rates of between 20.2 and 71.3 percent included seafood processing, beverages, paper, steel, textiles and garments, and automobiles.

Provinces posting high industrial value increases in January were Vinh Phuc (32.7 percent), Ha Tay (23.7 percent), Hai Duong (36.4 percent) and Binh Duong (24 percent). Industrial production in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City rose by 17.4 percent and 18.8 percent, respectively.

Some industries with lower production output than the corresponding period last year were crude oil, electric generators and refrigerators. These products fell by 4.7 percent, 10.3 percent and 1.2 percent respectively.