The high cost of shipping containers by sea is pushing domestic import-export enterprises (DN) into a difficult situation. So whether or not the shipping lines shake hands to “make prices”?
Mr. Phung Ngoc Sam, General Director of Hanfimex Company, said that from October 2020 until now, the sea freight rate has increased rapidly, making it very difficult for domestic import and export enterprises.
Specifically, the cost of transporting a 40-foot container from Vietnam to Europe and the Mediterranean has increased 2-3 times, even at times increased by 5 times, but there is still no sign of freight reduction.
“A 40-foot container used to be shipped to the Mediterranean for only $ 2,000, but now it’s up to $ 5,000, and at times it’s up to $ 11,000.
Sea transport charges increased so high that import-export enterprises fell into a passive position, the goods produced could not be exported, stagnated about 30% compared to the plan.
If this situation does not improve, it will push up the cost of goods, then the buyer who cannot release the goods to the market will return to force the price of Vietnamese import-export enterprises, ”Mr. Sam said.
| Container shipping charges are too high, worrying about shipping companies shaking hands to make prices |
Mr. Phan Thong, Secretary General of the Association of Maritime Owners, said that the increase in shipping rates was due to market differences. Due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, international seaports closed or restricted opening, resulting in stagnant goods, unable to dismantle containers, leading to a shortage of containers.
While in the country there is still demand for imports, so there is no balance, no empty containers for loading.
The possibility of shipping lines shaking hands is not excluded
Mr. Sam said that shipping lines gave reasons for the Covid-19 epidemic, international seaports were closed (or limited opening), so ships carrying goods to Europe and America … could not release containers.
In particular, after controlling the Covid-19 translation, China increased its exports, so the container shell regulates China a lot, leading to a shortage of containers to Vietnam.
“The shortage of containers leads ships to find it difficult to transport, so the increase in freight rates is true. However, the high freight rate does not rule out the fact that shipping lines shake hands to make prices, ”Mr. Sam said.
Representative of Vietnam Maritime Administration (Ministry of Transport) said that this department has just set up a working group to check freight rates and surcharges in addition to the service charge of shipping container goods by sea, after the freight container freight is exported. export continued to increase after Tet.
The working group (13 members), including the leaders of the Maritime Administration and the Import and Export Department (the Ministry of Industry and Trade) will check the compliance with the regulations on listing prices and surcharges in addition to the shipping service of container goods by seaway according to the provisions of Decree 146, handling violations if any.
The Maritime Administration also requires shipping lines to take measures to increase the volume of empty containers (40 feet) in Vietnam and propose solutions to flow domestic empty containers for import and export goods to reduce increasing container shipping prices to meet the demand of exporting goods by container for shippers in the current period of high demand.
Previously, the Ministry of Transport had requested the Maritime Administration to inspect and handle violations according to its competence (if any) in increasing freight rates and surcharges in addition to the freight rates of foreign shipping lines.
According to VietnamNet
