Cargo handling fees at Vietnamese ports lowest Southeast Asia

The terminal handling charge (THC) is equivalent to a third of the fees shipping lines collect from cargo owners, the association’s vice president, Le Quang Trung, said at a seminar on the World Logistics Passport Initiative held in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday.

International shipping lines collect a THC of US$140 per 20-foot container, but pay Vietnamese port operators, who load and unload the containers, only around $52, the lowest in Southeast Asia, Trung said, pointing out that ports are paid up to $90 in Cambodia and $115 in Singapore.

"This is really a disadvantage for Vietnamese ports because they have invested hundreds of millions of dollars. The government is considering increasing the floor fee."

On the other hand, long clearance times are causing difficulties for Vietnamese logistics businesses.

Nguyen Ngoc Thuyen from the World Logistics Passport, a global initiative led by the UAE and designed to smoothen the flow of global trade, unlock market access and provide economic efficiencies to members, said customs clearance time at Vietnamese ports is some 52 hours.

Bader Abdulla Al Matrooshi, the UAE’s ambassador to Vietnam, said the initiative is expected to help increase the volume of goods shipped from Vietnam to new markets by 0.5-27%.