The Vietnam Waterway Administration has reported that the volume of goods being transported between Vietnam and Cambodia by ship is increasing, with container cargo rising 20 per cent each year. However, goods on the route connecting Cat Lai Port and Cai Mep - Thi Vai Port in Vietnam with Phnom Penh are being transferred to Sihanoukville in Cambodia or Laem Chabang in Thailand, posing a risk of losses during transit.
Figures from the Vietnam Maritime Administration put the total volume of goods passing through local seaports in the first eight months of 2022 at an estimated 495.8 million tons, up 3 per cent year-on-year. Container cargo totaled 17,059 million TEUs, with an increase in exports and imports of 4 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively.
The government’s action program on the development of the northern midland and mountainous region sets a target of 8-9 per cent average annual growth in the 2021-2030 period. The economic scale of the region is to reach VND2.1 quadrillion ($89.52 billion) by 2030. The program will prioritize investment in highways connecting areas within the region as well as seaports, airports, and international border gates, creating a number of growth drivers and economic centers.
The volume of goods passing through Vietnam’s seaports in the first quarter of 2022 totaled nearly 180 million tons, up 4 per cent year-on-year, of which container cargo rose 6 per cent to nearly 6.3 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units).
Investors have been fulfilling the necessary procedures to begin construction of four remaining wharves, from No. 3 to No. 6, at Lach Huyen Port at the Hai Phong port complex in early 2022. With total investment of about VND13 trillion ($571.43 million), the wharves, expected to be put into operation between 2023 and 2025, will be capable of berthing large vessels and will contribute to regional growth.
According to a draft Circular from the Ministry of Finance (MoF) on resolving congestion at seaports, there are many regulations relating to administrative procedures and the responsibilities and obligations of entities. The draft therefore needs to be specific and clear to ensure common understanding and convenient implementation.