HO CHI MINH CITY: Tan Cang Cat Lai Port in Ho Chi Minh City’s newly created Thu Duc city will temporarily stop accepting imports by businesses that have suspended production so that it can clear a huge backlog of containers that have piled up.

       In an announcement, the Tan Cang Saigon (Saigon New Port) Corp said the pileup has been caused by firms reducing or suspending production since the city’s lockdown began.

       In the period, starting July 9, the number of trucks coming to the port to pick up cargo has declined sharply, and the number of containers stuck has climbed to nearly 100% of capacity.

       The port is also facing a shortage of employees, with the number halving to 250, exacerbating the pileup.

       Nguyen Phuong Nam, the corporation’s deputy general director, said customers who have suspended production should stop importing goods through the port for the time being, though it would still receive them if the goods are already en route.

       As for exports, oversized and excessively heavy goods and refrigerated cargo will also not be accepted until at least Aug 16.

       The corporation has called on shippers to provide the estimated number of containers with imports and empty brought by vessels docked at its port in the next two weeks so that it can proactively rearrange space.

       If the number of containers stockpiled reaches the port’s maximum capacity, the port will have to stop receiving cargo.

       The corporation has called on the city Department of Customs to seek the General Department of Vietnam Customs’ instructions for dealing with the backlog at the port.

       Nguyen Xuan Sang, director-general of the Vietnam Maritime Administration, said his agency has proposed solutions to the Transport Ministry to resolve the urgent problems at the port. ― Viet Nam News/ANN