Gov’t orders clarification of hike in shipping container rentals

Gov’t orders clarification of hike in shipping container rentals

The Saigon Times

HCMC – Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung has asked the ministries of Industry-Trade and Transport to clarify the reason for the spike in the rentals of shipping containers and impose harsh sanctions on those who violated regulations.

The deputy prime minister also told the two ministries to work with the relevant agencies, associations and firms to eliminate difficulties facing import and export activities, according to a dispatch sent by the Government Office to the two ministries.

Earlier, the Ministry of Industry and Trade had reported an increase in the costs of export-import activities due to the hike in shipping container rentals to the Government.

Some exporters started to complain about the hike in the rentals of shipping containers and the shortage of cargo ships and empty containers in October last year, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The situation was negatively affecting many exports, mainly agricultural and fishery products, said many associations and firms.

The hike in the rentals would send other service fees such as terminal handling charges and container imbalance charges up, putting pressure on Vietnamese firms.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade proposed the Government assign the Ministry of Transport to set the rentals of containers and subcharges of services at seaports and review empty containers and publicize them.