Containers with goods at a port. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has called on marine transport and logistics businesses to cut fees for container storage and warehousing for companies that have reduced operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo: VNA)Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh on August 10 sent anofficial dispatch to a number of business groups like the Vietnam LogisticsBusiness Association and Vietnam Seaports Association, port operators andshipping and logistics companies for the purpose.
It pointed out that 19 southern provinces and cities have mandated socialdistancing under the Government's Directive 16, including Ho Chi Minh City, BinhDuong, Dong Nai, and Long An, all localities with large volumes of imports andexports.
The application of social distancing and other epidemic prevention and controlmeasures means some businesses have temporarily reduced operations and facedifficulties in picking up their cargo from ports, leading to an increase inthe storage time at ports and costs, it said.
This makes it imperative to cut charges for them, it said.
It also instructed marine transport and logistics businesses and associationsto improve goods clearance and reduce container backlogs at ports andfacilitate import-export activities.
Many trade groups have complained to the ministry about a shortage of containersand high logistics and international shipping costs (that have risen 5-10 timessince before the pandemic) that have persisted since last year.
The surging costs of fuel and imported raw materials in recent months have alsocaused enormous difficulties for companies producing goods for export./.
VNA
