Cargo volumes at seaports remain imbalanced

According to the Vietnam Maritime Administration, the volume of cargo passing through seaports in Vietnam grew 10%-12% over the last decade.

However, seaports in the north serve 25%-30% of the total volume of cargo and those in central provinces, only 13%, while customs clearance procedures for 57% of cargo are done at seaports in the south.

Bui Thien Thu, deputy director of the Vietnam Maritime Administration, said that the distribution of cargo to seaports has several shortcomings. Cat Lai Port in HCMC should have been allowed to receive small vessels, with a capacity of some 5,000 tons of cargo. Large vessels should use the Cai Mep-Thi Vai port complex in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province.

However, passages to Cat Lai Port are being dredged, allowing 50,000-ton vessels to enter the port.

Therefore, the Government should seek solutions to balance the volumes of cargo at seaports nationwide, Thu said.