Vietnam Seeks to Reduce Container Freights
Vietnam should promptly build ports capable of receiving large ships in order to stop transiting goods through third countries, reducing container transport costs to equal other countries, according to the Vietnam Ship-owners Association.
Vietnam’s sea transport costs are higher than those in other regional countries, it said, adding that container freight costs from Vietnam are about 20-30 per cent higher.
The most effective way to reduce sea transport fees is to upgrade the national seaport system in order to receive larger ships, the association said.
The country has no ports for large ships able to receive containers to ship to the US, Europe and Australia. Very few ports in the country can accommodate ships of over 30,000 DWT.
All Vietnamese import-export goods to and from those destinations have to transit through Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan or Thailand.
Each year, the country spends about US$300 million on goods transit.
VNA
Vietnamese
