HCMC – The northern provinces of Quang Ninh and Lao Cai have halted receiving container trucks transporting fruits and aquatic products for export to some of their border gates and crossings, as container backlogs still exist.
Quang Ninh stopped receiving trucks of fresh fruits and frozen aquatic products, especially items that are hard to be preserved, through border gates and crossings in Mong Cai City from January 17 to 31. The provincial government requested other provinces and cities to inform businesses and the relevant units about the suspension.
Earlier, customs clearance services were resumed through Bac Luan 1, 2 bridges and the pontoon bridge at the Mong Cai border gate on January 10, while services at the Bac Phong Sinh and Hoanh Mo border gates in the province’s Hai Ha and Huynh Mo districts, respectively, were restored on January 6.
Import-export activities through border gates and crossings in Quang Ninh have made progress over the past few days. However, the risk of container backlogs still remains due to the unpredictable trajectory of Covid.
The Chinese side announced its policy to restrict the number of trucks transporting goods through the Dongxing Border Gate in China’s Guangxi Province at 50 vehicles per day. Up to now, around 1,500 vehicles are reportedly stranded at border gates and crossings in Quang Ninh.
In Lao Cai, the local authorities will halt receiving trucks of fresh fruits to the Kim Thanh border gate starting January 18 until further notice to implement the Chinese side’s anti-coronavirus measures.
Besides, nearly 1,000 vehicles transporting fresh fruits such as dragon fruits, mangoes, watermelons and jackfruits are stranded at border gates in Lao Cai. Storage facilities at the Kim Thanh border gate have been overwhelmed by a huge backlog and cannot receive more vehicles.
Earlier, the Yunnan authorities in China on January 12 had resumed customs clearance services for fresh fruits imported from Vietnam through the Kim Thanh border gate. However, the customs clearance capacity was limited, with around 60 trucks passing through the gate from January 12 to 15.
