And you, Vietnam! Why do we sell him raw materials, and he sells us electronics?

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

Even boring customs statistics can sometimes be shocking. And to make you think hard.. A question for filling: what do you think, which goods occupy the largest share in Russian imports from Vietnam?

While thoughts are stirring in the head of erudites, one can speculate that the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a typical third world country, a former agrarian province, which is only now making its industrial transition. Lagging behind China by 25-30 years. What can great Russia import from there?

So, according to customs statistics, the main share in Russian imports of Vietnamese goods was taken by such a group as … electrical machines and equipment, as well as components. It accounted for almost half of imports.

Unexpected, right?

At the same time, oil and its refined products remain the key item of Russian exports to Vietnam. In terms of specific weight, it is ahead of even military goods (passing under the secret articles of statistics). The third place is taken by metals and metal products.

That is, in terms of structure, Russian-Vietnamese trade is a bit like trade with developed countries. We go to the oil industry and other raw materials, and from there to us - electronics and equipment.

Of course, such a bias is possible partly due to the small absolute indicators of trade between our two countries. This is only $ 3.8 billion. Well, the most important thing in the import of Vietnamese electrical goods is cell phones. We purchased them for almost $ 1 billion in 2016.

By the way, they say that the Vietnamese Samsung assemblies are not bad at all.

Here one could put an end to it, giggling at the paradoxes of statistics. But here's another interesting moment looms.

In Russia, there has long been a Samsung Electronics branded plant, which produces televisions, monitors and washing machines. Well, how they are produced … Assembled - it would be more accurate to say, although plastic cases are stamped in Russia, and some printed circuit boards are also soldered there, near Kaluga.

Question: why is it more profitable to bring cell phones and smartphones to Russia from Vietnam, and not collect on the spot, since there is a square and a successful experience too?

You can tell right away that this is not a salary story. The salary of workers at Samsung Electronics Rus Kaluga is an average of 25 thousand rubles. under a normal schedule from 8-00 to 17-00, all breaks and weekends. On a rotational basis, with overtime, you can earn 38-45 thousand rubles.

This shift work, I must say, is not sugar. Standing. Lunch 40 minutes, 2 breaks 10 minutes each. Overalls are issued, accommodation is free in a hostel, transport to the enterprise is at the expense of the employer. In Moscow, this is how Tajik migrant workers work at construction sites.

In Vietnam, despite the myths about cheap labor, salaries are now far from miniscule. Yes, female workers in shoe and garment factories receive only $ 200-250 per month. But already in the electronics industry, payments are completely different. Workers there, on average, have $ 350-450, depending on working conditions and qualifications. Local engineers receive from $ 500. Joint ventures also have annual and quarterly bonuses.

But 25 thousand rubles. - This is somewhere around $ 430 at the current exchange rate. That is, in terms of salaries and working conditions, the Russian hard worker "Samsung Electronics Rus …" does not differ much from his Vietnamese counterpart. And in terms of qualifications - why yesterday's peasant from the province of Laokai is better than the Kaluga proletarian in the third generation?

So why is it more profitable for the transnational corporation Samsung Electronics (and many others, perhaps) to produce everything a little bit high-tech in Vietnam and Laos - and then take 10-20 days to Russia? Why not develop similar production at Russian sites? A question of questions.