HCMC – The Ministry of Transport has announced a 10% increase in seaport service fees, with effect from February 15 next year.
The increase, detailed in Circular 39/2023/TT-BGTVT (Circular 39), replaces Circular 54/2018/TT-BGTVT, and affects various maritime services at Vietnamese seaports, including container loading and unloading.
Under Circular 39, container unloading fees will rise by 10% in certain areas, particularly affecting deep-water ports such as Lach Huyen and Cai Mep-Thi Vai.
For domestic containers, unloading fees for a 20-foot container will range from VND260,000 to VND427,000, while a 40-foot container will incur charges between VND439,000 and VND627,000. Deep-water ports may have higher fees.
A 10% fee hike will affect import and export operations in specific regions. In Zone I, fees for unloading a 20-foot container will range from US$$36 to US$$53, and a 40-foot container will incur fees between US$$55 and US$$81.
Similar adjustments will apply to Zone III and Port Group 5, with fees of US$45-53 per 20-foot container and US$68-81 per 40-foot container in Zone III, and US$23-27 per 20-foot container and US$34-41 per 40-foot container in Port Group 5.
Deep-water ports like Lach Huyen and Cai Mep-Thi Vai will have distinct pricing frameworks, with import, export, and transshipment fees ranging from US$57 to US$108 depending on container sizes.
For containers in transit or transshipment, unloading fees will range from US$34 to US$40 for 20-foot containers and US$51 to US$58 for 40-foot containers.
Oversized and overloaded cargo containers, as well as those carrying dangerous goods or requiring special loading, unloading, and preservation, incurring additional costs, will have fees capped at 150% of the specified pricing framework.
