Le Anh
Containers arranged at Cai Mep International Terminal. Many shipping enterprises have refused to pay new container handling charges as regulated by the Finance Ministry – Photo: Anh Quan Nguyen Xuan Ky, deputy general director of the Cai Mep International Terminal, said that the total fee that shipping firms have to pay amounts to over US$1.2 million. If the enterprises continue to delay payment, port service providers will suffer huge problems.
The enterprises are waiting for an explanation from the Ministry of Finance over the Decision No. 1661/QD-BTC, which became valid on August 1, 2013 to set the minimum service fee framework for the import-export container loading and unloading services.
The enterprises have signed contracts with port operators through competitive tenders. They said the service fees at the Cai Mep-Thi Vai port complex are less competitive than other regional ports and that the service fee increases will force shipping firms to switch to other ports.
Speaking to logistics firms in a dialogue earlier this month, Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Cong said that the minimum service fee framework is aimed at stabilizing service charges and preventing unhealthy competition.
In addition, intervention of the State is necessary to secure State capital in port joint ventures. Otherwise, foreign companies will take over key ports in Vietnam, Cong said.
On July 15, the Ministry of Finance released Decision No. 1661 regulating that the service fees for 20, 40, and over 40-foot containers are US$46, US$68 and US$75 respectively. The fees for empty containers are US$29, US$43 and US$48 respectively.
The fees for cold-storage, hazardous goods or oversized containers will be negotiated between the service provider and the client, but they must not be lower than the stipulated levels.
Đăng ký: VietNam News