VietNamNet Bridge - More than 80% of cargo containers in HCM City must go through Cat Lai port, but the port has been overloaded for several weeks.

Many import and export enterprises in HCM City have complained about congestion at the port, which has caused long waits for customs clearance of goods.

Mr. Hai, an employee of an import and export company based in District 3, said his company had only three containers but it took them three days for customs clearance.

Previously, the time was only one or two days.

"The new electronic customs clearance procedures at the port run very slowly and clients have to wait for a very long time to get through," he said.

Mr. Do Xuan Phu, Director of the Lien Minh Transportation Company, said congestion not only occurs in Cat Lai port but also at the Phu My Bridge.

"We have to wait a few days in the port to receive the goods but when we get the goods we are stuck at Phu My Bridge. We have to pay additional costs," he said.

An official of the Minh Phu Seafood JSC said the congestion has affected the time of goods deliveries. He said that previously the delivery time was only half a day and now it takes two to three days.

According to the Saigon Newport Corporation, which runs Cat Lai port, there are many reasons for the current situation. The first is the increase of import-export activities. The second is from April 1, the authorities have tightened control over the load of trucks, meaning that transport firms have to increase the number of vehicles to carry the same volume of goods. This requires time to purchase enough vehicles so goods are stuck at ports.

At the same time, from June 9, the customs agency began using the new e-clearance program and this has made the situation more stressful.

According to statistics, since the new program was implemented, the number of containers released from the port has declined from 250-300 containers per day, while the number of containers entering the port has increased by 300-350 containers per day.

In addition, congestion at several foreign ports such as Tanjung Pelepas (Malaysia), Manila (Philippines), Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Singapore that has lasted from late April along with adverse weather (rainy and stormy season) have resulted in delays of many ships, which has also affected the activities of Cat Lai port.

Cat Lai Port says it will initiate urgent measures to solve the situation. The port authorities have also asked HCM City to open the Phu Huu port in order to reduce the load for Cat Lai port and create favorable conditions for the Saigon Newport Corporation to put the Tan Cang (New Port) - Hiep Phuoc Port into operation.

This unit also proposed to inspect the goods and containers randomly, which was the method used before the new customs clearance procedures was applied.

Along with these solutions, from July 15, Cat Lai port began to increase many types of fees, and stopped receiving some kind of containers. According to the Saigon Newport Company, "the increase of fees is to encourage customers to take goods early, to avoid the current congestion".

Na Son