Seaports increase services to attract goods

In the first months of 2024, import and export goods through many seaports have had positive changes, and port operators have applied many solutions to meet business requirements.

Cargo through the port increases

In the first quarter of 2024, the volume of goods through Chu Lai port (Quang Nam) reached 810 thousand tons, an increase of 10% over the same period in 2023, including 390 thousand tons of container cargo and 420 thousand tons of bulk and liquid cargo. The main types of goods imported and exported through the port are: auto parts, mechanics, fruits, cassava starch, pellets, wood chips, household goods, garments, etc.

Assessing the market development situation in the first months of 2024, Mr. Phan Van Ky, General Director of Chu Lai International Seaport, said that the port is focusing on attracting sources of goods with a lot of room for development in the Central Highlands, Laos, and Cambodia such as agricultural products (fresh fruit, cassava starch, etc.), minerals (iron ore, bauxite ore) exported to markets in China, Japan, and Korea; At the same time, Gemadept supports customers in connecting resources and providing comprehensive logistics services to optimize costs. Specifically, in terms of business results, Gemadept recorded a 28% increase in net revenue, to VND879.9 billion. Of which, port operation revenue accounted for 83.6%, equivalent to VND735.8 billion; the rest came from logistics and office leasing activities. The company’s after-tax profit reached VND319.2 billion, an increase of nearly 86% over the same period. In the coming period, Gemadept will strongly implement post-port infrastructure investment projects and logistics services in the Southern region, including ICDs, warehouse systems, cargo collection points and river fleets. Thereby, the company expects to strongly increase the position of Gemalink port (in Cai Mep port area) as an important transit hub in the region.

According to data from the Vietnam Maritime Administration, the volume of goods passing through seaports in the first 3 months of the year reached 177 million tons (excluding transit goods not handled at the port), up 3% over the same period in 2021. Of which, container goods passing through seaports were 6 million TEUs, up 2%. Seaport areas with increased cargo volume include: Quang Ninh area increased by 11%, Quang Nam increased by 19%, Dong Nai increased by 8%…

Commenting on the development trend of Vietnam’s seaports, in a recently published report, SSI Research stated that cargo throughput will improve this year thanks to the recovery of production activities after the easing of social distancing. The growth rate is estimated to reach an average level in the first half of the year and accelerate in the second half of the year. The annual growth rate is estimated at about 10-20%, higher than the annual growth rate under normal conditions. However, the profit growth of port companies may vary with higher growth potential for deep-water ports with excess capacity.

Increasing services to attract cargo sources

Currently, to meet the needs of businesses, many ports have invested in exploiting transit and transshipment goods. Ms. Ngo Thi Thanh Vy, Member of the Board of Directors, Deputy General Director of Long An International Port Management and Operation Joint Stock Company, said that recently, many Vietnamese and Cambodian enterprises have come to Long An International Port to learn about the exploitation of transit and transshipment goods from Cambodia through Long An International Port, from here continuing international voyages to European and American countries, or vice versa from transiting through Long An International Port to Cambodia.

Timely grasping the integration trend, improving the entire value chain, enhancing the automation of the entire operation and service process, Long An International Port has successfully operated comprehensive digital transformation systems. Accordingly, the port has been operating and providing full package seaport and logistics services, such as: general cargo and container exploitation; warehousing services; international freight forwarding; water and land transport; customs brokerage; receiving the needs of businesses with transit goods, transshipment goods from Cambodia to Vietnam and vice versa through two advantages of road and waterway traffic connections” – Ms. Ngo Thi Thanh Vy emphasized.

To attract goods through the port, Mr. Phan Van Ky said that currently, Chu Lai port has deployed many synchronous solutions to expand the scale of operations, improve service quality, and attract investment. Specifically, the port is speeding up the construction progress of the 50,000-ton wharf and 2 STS cranes, expected to be completed in early May 2024; putting into operation 3 eRTG cranes with a total capacity of nearly 90 lifts/hour; supporting customers in carrying out administrative procedures on transit permits, customs procedures, etc.; At the same time, work with international shipping lines to connect the Chu Lai – Northeast Asia route with the most reasonable shipping costs. At the same time, Chu Lai port will continue to review and evaluate the effectiveness of services, thereby making reasonable adjustments to improve quality at each stage; focus on research, develop market strategies, promote marketing, focus on potential customer groups to increase output and goods sources, striving for the target of cargo output through the port to reach 5 million tons in 2024.

Currently, Chu Lai Port has implemented many synchronous solutions to expand its scale of operations, improve service quality, and attract investment. Specifically, the port is accelerating the construction of a 50,000-ton wharf and 2 STS cranes, expected to be completed in early May 2024; putting into operation 3 eRTG cranes with a total capacity of nearly 90 lifts/hour; supporting customers in carrying out administrative procedures on transit permits, customs procedures, etc.; and working with international shipping lines to connect the Chu Lai – Northeast Asia route with the most reasonable sea freight costs.

Source: Haiquanonline