Y Nhi, a businesswoman in HCMC, exports two containers of pepper to Australia each month. The containers are transshipped in Singapore or Malaysia before going to Australia. “I have to keep close watch over the freight that carries my goods and I sigh with relief when I hear about landfall,” she said.

Nhi said she and other goods owners are anxious exporting goods to Australia by sea freight, because there is no direct route that carries goods directly from HCMC to Australia.

She also complained that the market supply is limited, which leads to high, changing freight rates. As a result, the transport time is prolonged, while containers have to be handled many times and businesses cannot anticipate the freights.

However, the situation will improve in 2019, analysts say.

Deep-water seaports to benefit from CPTPP

In general, FTAs lead to higher exports to countries which are tmembers of the agreements. The World Bank has estimated that in the case of the CPTPP, Vietnam’s exports by 2030 will increase by $13.1 billion compared with basic scenario, which is approximately the export turnover of footwear products in 2018 ($16.3 billion)

The increase in export volume means bigger job opportunities for shipping firms. Prior to 2009, Vietnam’s export products had to transit at regional ports such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Klang in Malaysia, because Vietnam did not have any deep-water seaport.

Since June 2009, when the Cai Mep – Thi Vai port complex became operational, direct maritime routes connecting Vietnam and European and North American countries have  launched.

The world’s largest shipping firms such as Maersk, CMA-CGM, MSC, NYK, COSCO and Evergreen are using routes with 8,000-18,000 TEU ships, large ships that many ports in the world cannot receive.

The Hai Phong International Container Terminal (HICT) in Lach Huyen district also expects to serve the route to North America this year. If the plans goes smoothly, this would be the first direct maritime route connecting the ports in northern Vietnam and the US market.

The establishment of deep-water seaports and Vietnam’s signing of FTAs have also prompted shipping firms to launch medium-distance routes, including routes connecting India or Africa and Vietnam.

The 4,000-5,000 TEU ships, which could not dock at ports in HCMC and Hai Phong in the past, now can enter the Cai Mep-Thi Vai, Lach Huyen or Cai Lan ports.

Sources said CMA-CGM, the fourth largest container carrier in the world, would be the first to provide services on the Vietnam-Australia route through its two subsidiaries – APL and ANL.

RELATED NEWS

Better seaports and services key to cruise tourism in VN

Foreign investors set sights on Vietnam’s seaports

Thanh Lich