Trade ministry wants storage, warehousing costs cut for struggling businesses
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.
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)
HCM City (VNS/VNA) - The Ministry of Industry and Trade has calledon marine transport and logistics businesses to cut fees for container storageand warehousing for companies that have reduced operations due to the COVID-19pandemic.
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./.
Vietnam Railways (VNR) on July 20 added a new rail freight link from Vietnam to Belgium, with the first train departing from Yen Vien station, Hanoi, and expected to arrive at Liege City in Belgium.
A strategy for developing domestic trade between 2021 and 2030 has been signed off by Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh, aiming to raise domestic trade’s proportion in the country’s GDP to 15 - 15.5 percent in the next 10 years.
Container freight trains from Vietnam to Belgium will open up a new cooperation direction to increase benefits of railway logistics services, Deputy General Director of the Rail Transport and Trade Joint Stock Company (Ratraco) Nguyen Hoang Thanh told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).
Vietnam prioritises foreign investment projects in high technology, innovation, research and development, and projects that create favourable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to participate in the value chain, as well as those related to promoting the digital economy and actively contributing to the country’s sustainable socio-economic development.
Despite complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam is still chosen by many foreign investors as a destination to build production bases, especially in the electronics industry, according to Fitch Solutions.
Developed with state-of-the-art infrastructure, the Da Nang FTZ is designed to become a leading regional economic centre and a strategic growth pole in Vietnam’s new development landscape.
The Binh Duong Association of Supporting Industries (BASI) is expected to promote the usage of domestically manufactured components while supporting businesses in accessing international markets, strengthening linkages, and promoting deeper integration into global supply chains.
PwC Vietnam forecasts a vibrant M&A market in Vietnam’s healthcare sector in 2025, driven by rising demand for high-quality medical services and a growing middle class. Pharmaceutical companies, private hospitals, and specialised medical facilities, particularly in ophthalmology and oncology, are predicted to be key targets for M&A.
The central province of Quang Nam is set to become a hub for the medicinal plant industry, with Ngoc Linh ginseng designated as the core crop, under the Prime Minister's decision issued earlier this year.
The North-South Expressway project is scheduled for completion by 2030, aiming to establish the groundwork for Vietnam’s modern railway industry and stimulate regional economic development, positioning the country for a significant economic leap in the era of national rise.
The probe, initiated on June 11 following a petition by the US Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, targets products classified under HS Code 4412 and 9403 imported from China, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways was born as a perfect piece in Sun Group’s strategic vision to build a premium ecosystem of tourism, entertainment, real estate, and aviation. With a pioneering ambition, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is not just an airline, but a symbol of connection – bringing the world to Phu Quoc and taking Phu Quoc to the world.
A key change in the draft decree is a provision requiring bank transfers for gold transactions valued at 20 million VND (765 USD) and above, to enhance transparency and verify customer identities.
In the first four months of 2025, trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia surpassed 3 billion USD, marking a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 19 alone, a total of 2,005 trucks completed customs clearance at Lang Son’s border gates — the highest single-day figure ever recorded in the province. Of these, 634 carried exports and 1,371 imports.
The OECD Economic Surveys: Vietnam 2025 report focuses on analysing the country’s macroeconomic fundamentals, the impact of international integration on attracting foreign investment and trade, and the country’s prospects for developing a low-carbon economy.
Antoine Colin, Senior Vice President for Global Supply Chain Digital Transformation & Resilience at HP Inc., affirmed HP’s strategic commitment to building a supply chain and ecosystem in Vietnam and the region.
Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Trade Promotion Agency Bui Quang Hung emphasised that logistics has evolved from a technical function into a core capability for Vietnamese exporters to maintain their competitive advantage in the US market.
A trade official has suggested companies work closely with shipping lines, airlines, and freight forwarders to monitor routes, transit times, and potential surcharges while exploring broader cargo insurance to cover risks like war and terrorism.
In addition to institutional reform, the agency is also rolling out key solution groups to combat counterfeit goods, imitations, and intellectual property infringements in the digital environment.
The event, co-organised by the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK and TT Meridian, a local importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, aims to build a national lychee brand and encourage broader recognition of Vietnamese fruits in a competitive, high-end market.
The industry's performance has been powered by bold investments in modern production lines, enabling Vietnamese firms to produce complicated products which were exclusive to advanced economies.
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) 
