Vietnam’s seaport system and logistics services associated with seaport operation always play a particularly important role in Vietnam’s economic development. However, to meet the requirements of Vietnam’s seaports, there are many challenges.
Vietnam’s seaports step by step modernize
In recent years, the maritime infrastructure, especially the seaport infrastructure, has played a very important role, both serving the needs of the country’s economic development and creating a driving force for economic activities. foreign policy and international integration.
Attached to the centers and major economic regions of the country have formed large seaports with the role of focal points serving import and export of goods and creating a driving force for the development of the whole region such as Quang Ninh, Hai Phong and Hai Phong seaports. Room associated with the northern key economic region; seaports of Thua Thien – Hue, Da Nang, Dung Quat, Quy Nhon associated with the central key economic region; City seaport. Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Dong Nai associated with the Southeast dynamic economic region; Can Tho and An Giang seaports associated with the key economic region of the Mekong Delta…
Ports and seaport areas here have been performing the role of international gateway ports and taking on transshipment functions. In 2020, Vietnam’s seaport system throughput 692.2 million tons (about 8.4 times higher than throughput in 2000) and 1.7% higher than the demand forecast for 2020 (640 million tons). -680 million tons according to Decision No. 1037/QD-TTg dated June 24, 2014 of the Prime Minister). Every year, Vietnam’s seaports contribute to the entire volume of goods imported and exported by sea, accounting for over 90% of the total import and export demand of the country. exchange of goods, creating impetus to promote economic sectors.
In the first 11 months of 2022, exports reached more than 163 million tons, due to many reasons, there was a 3% decrease compared to the same period in 2021. Imports also decreased by 3%, estimated at more than 191 million tons. For domestic products, there is a slight increase, estimated at more than 314 million tons, up 13% compared to the same period in 2021. In which, the volume of container cargo through seaports in the first 11 months of 2022 is estimated at nearly 23 million TEUs, an increase of 5% compared to 2021.
Lloyd’s List maritime magazine (United Kingdom) not long ago released a ranking of 100 container ports in 2022 with the largest cargo throughput in the world. In which, Vietnam has 3 ports on this list, including Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City and Cai Mep. These are all seaports that are also evaluated by Lloy’s List with good growth rates.
Vietnam has also attracted many investors who are professional port operators, major shipping lines of the world participating in the construction and operation of seaports and ports in Vietnam such as DP World Group, UAE. , SSA Marine Corporation, USA, PSA Group, Singapore, APMT Group, Denmark, Hutchison Port Holding Group, Hong Kong (China)…
With the improvement of seaport service quality and Vietnam’s shipping demand, the large port has attracted shipping lines to open routes from Vietnam to connect with other countries in the world. Lach Huyen wharf area of Vietnam has received ships of up to 132,000 DWT, Cai Mep Thi Vai wharf has received ships of up to 214,000 DWT, equivalent to a capacity of over 18,000 TEU. From Cai Mep – Thi Vai port area weekly with a total of nearly 40 ship routes, of which 18 transport routes to Europe, America, 10 intra-Asia routes, making Vietnam gradually become an important link in the maritime chain global program.
Seaport infrastructure capacity has been invested in recent times with the motto of being one step ahead, also contributing to creating an initiative for Vietnam to respond to global economic issues such as the COVID-19 epidemic, fluctuations geopolitical relations between Russia – Ukraine, shifting the investment wave strongly attracted foreign investment flows and contributed to ensuring macroeconomic stability.
Vietnam has great potential to build large industrial-service port complexes
Due to the important position of Vietnam’s seaport system, during the official visit to the Netherlands, on December 13, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a meeting to learn about the port of Rotterdam – the largest port in Europe. Europe, considered the gateway to Europe and one of the busiest ports in the world.
A representative of the Port of Rotterdam said that the port has an effective port authority model, with the following elements: Smart port, Safe port, Environmentally sustainable port and Port Accessible port.
The Port of Rotterdam is managed by a public company, but with the participation of private companies both to develop infrastructure and manage different items. The port applies the “Landlord port” mechanism – a combination of port operations and logistics land behind the port for private exploitation to create jobs and improve the port’s operational capacity. The advantage of this management model is that public companies can share the financial burden of investment and management with private companies. The skillful combination of the public-private model has brought the highest efficiency to the country.
The port area is also a major industrial center with oil, chemical and gas refineries, etc. In general, the port area creates jobs for about half a million people and contributes about 8% of the Dutch GDP. The Port of Rotterdam is also promoting sustainable development, including energy transformation, digital transformation for use in port operations and also in shipping.
More broadly, a developed transport system is one of the prerequisites to help the Netherlands become a leading country in the field of sea freight transport and logistics. In particular, with a modern transport system connecting railways, roads, waterways and air routes to other European cities, Rotterdam has succeeded in developing a number of key economic sectors such as energy and energy. quality, logistics, high technology, chemicals, life sciences and healthcare, agricultural products…
After listening to the introduction about the history and development model of the port of Rotterdam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked two questions to the port representative: Firstly, can Vietnam build an international transshipment port? Second, can the port of Rotterdam support Vietnam to build an international transshipment port?
The representative of the port of Rotterdam affirmed that Vietnam has great potential to build large industrial-service port complexes and the port of Rotterdam is ready to cooperate with the Vietnamese side. However, the construction of a transshipment port also has certain risks due to very high competition, so it should be calculated very carefully.
The Prime Minister said he would assign the Ministry of Transport to continue researching, coordinating and exchanging with Dutch partners to implement specific and mutually beneficial cooperation activities. The Prime Minister suggested that the port of Rotterdam continue to study and evaluate the potential of building an international transshipment port in Vietnam and its ability to compete with other international transshipment ports in the region.
Port of Rotterdam enthusiastically supports Vietnam and Vietnamese port cities such as Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City; demonstrates the appreciation of the port of Rotterdam for the potential of Vietnam’s cities and port systems, demonstrating the role, contribution and commitment of Vietnam in joining hands with the international community to solve the problem. address global marine economic and environmental problems.
The challenge of Vietnam’s current seaport system is the lack of synchronization between seaport planning with local construction planning and other sectors; infrastructure has not kept up with the increasing demand for connectivity of the regional and world maritime markets; lack of modern seaports capable of receiving ships of large tonnage; Outdated loading and unloading equipment, low productivity…
Source: vlr.vn
