HCMC – The Ministry of Industry and Trade has proposed Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh permit the import of construction sand from Cambodia to address domestic shortages.
In a survey conducted from May 13 to 16, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Transport found that Cambodia has ample sand reserves to meet Vietnam’s construction needs.
Currently, Cambodia exports 50,000 to 60,000 cubic meters of sand daily to Vietnam.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade has recommended that the Ministry of Transport collaborate with other relevant ministries to determine the total demand for sand. This coordination aims to facilitate negotiations and purchase contracts with Cambodian companies, adhering to the regulations of both countries.
At present, three Cambodian companies hold permits to extract and export sand. Chaktomuk Company exports 40,000 to 60,000 cubic meters daily to 15-20 Vietnamese companies. Global Green Energy Company exports about 10,000 cubic meters daily to two or three Vietnamese companies. However, Sok Theara Company, with reserves exceeding 200 million cubic meters, has not yet exported to Vietnam.
Cambodia is prepared to issue certificates of origin for sand to prevent fraud and smuggling, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
In April, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha met with various ministries and local authorities in HCMC to discuss sand materials for the HCMC Beltway No. 3 project.
Cambodia has expressed willingness to export up to 100 million cubic meters of sand over one year. The deputy prime minister instructed the Ministry of Industry and Trade to report on negotiations regarding the import of construction and reclamation sand from Cambodia to address the domestic supply-demand imbalance.
