HCMC – Many rice exporters have found it tough to access the online customs system to register for rice exports even though the prime minister has approved the resumption of rice exports.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on April 10 approved the resumption after a short suspension, permitting a volume of 400,000 tons of rice to be exported this month. Following this decision, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said on same day that it would open the online customs system for rice export registration on April 11.
However, Nguyen Van Thanh, director of Phuoc Thanh IV Trading-Production Co., Ltd, noted that many rice exporters had difficulty logging into the online system on April 11.
On April 12, they learned that the online customs system had opened for registration early in the morning that day and that all 400,000 tons of rice from the quota had already been assigned.
“The opening of the online customs system for rice export registration early in the morning caused many rice exporters to miss the opportunity, and many will face serious trouble as their rice inventories remain stockpiled at ports,” he remarked.
According to Nguyen Minh Toai, director of the Can Tho City Department of Industry and Trade, traders in the city have nearly 10,000 tons of rice waiting for export at ports, with costs for rice storage and related services amounting to billions of Vietnam dong.
Dinh Ngoc Thang, head of the HCMC Customs Department, pointed out that the Ministry of Trade’s decision on the rice export quota was issued over the weekend (Friday, April 10), so the Ministry of Finance and the General Department of Vietnam Customs were expected to provide rice export guidance to local customs departments no sooner than today, April 13.
“When the HCMC Customs Department receives the detailed guidance, we will create the best conditions for traders to export rice,” he said.
