Call for cuts to charges for container storage and warehousing

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh issued Official Letter No. 4812/BCT-XNK on August 10 to the Vietnam Logistics Business Association, the Vietnam Seaports Association, seaport management and operations agencies, shipping enterprises and shipping lines, and logistics centers, suggesting reductions on container storage charges, warehousing charges, and storage charges.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) pointed out that there are 16 cities and provinces following Directive No. 16 from the Prime Minister, some of which have large volumes of exports and imports, such as Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Long An. Social distancing in these localities has caused some businesses to temporarily reduce their production scale, leading to congestion of imported containers, longer storage and warehousing times, and higher costs.

MoIT therefore proposed that two supportive measures be adopted.

Firstly, lowering container storage charges, warehousing charges, and storage charges at seaports and logistics centers for businesses forced to cut production due to Covid-19. Secondly, improving the ability to release goods from ports, enhancing the exploitation capacity of ports, and coordinating between parties to regulate the volume of goods at ports, to create favorable conditions for import and export enterprises.