Lang Son: Increasing amount of backlogged goods at border gates

Slow cargo clearance is due to Chinese applied strict implementation of sterilisation procedures for vehicles. Photo: Son Hai

According to statistics from Lang Son Customs Department, from February 1st to March 3rd, the Customs Branches of Huu Nghi, Tan Thanh, Chi Ma, Coc Nam and Dong Dang international railway station have completed import and export procedures for 8,632 cargo trucks with a turnover of nearly $500 million.

In the first three days of March, the units completed import and export procedures for 3,836 trucks. On March 3, Huu Nghi Border Gate Customs Branch completed procedures for 524 cargo trucks; Tan Thanh Customs completed clearance procedures for 125 cargo trucks, Dong Dang International Railway Station completed procedures for two imported cargo trains and Chi Ma Customs Branch completed clearance procedures for 29 cargo trucks.

Also according to statistics, the number of backlogged goods at the border gate on March 1 was 441 cargo trucks, 433 cargo trucks on March 2 and 520 cargo trucks on March 3. Of that, more than half of goods at border gate were agricultural products, which were mainly dragon fruits, watermelons, mangoes and jackfruit of Vietnam, waiting for clearance. Based on those figures, it was clear to see that the number of backlogged goods at the border gate was increasing.

According to the assessment of Lang Son Customs Department, the cargo clearance was still slow, especially agricultural products of Vietnam.

Thus, although it has been officially reopened (starting cargo clearance at Huu Nghi international border gate on February 5 and reopened Tan Thanh border gate on February 20), cargo clearance at border gates of Lang Son province has not improved much. The statistics showed that the number of cargo truck of Vietnam's agricultural products exported every day is showing a decrease.

According to the assessment of the People's Committee of Lang Son Province, the reason was the shortage of human resources for loading goods, so it resulted in slow processing of clearance procedures each day. Besides that, China has strengthened the application of strict control measures on medical quarantine for drivers and stevedores so it has also meant this situation has not improved.

In order to improve customs clearance capacity but it still ensure epidemic prevention to facilitate enterprises importing and exporting goods, the representative of the People's Committee of Lang Son Province said that the province would continue to direct the relevant authorities in the locality to urgently discuss and meet with Chinese authorities in order to unify the implementation of measures to improve clearance capacity to facilitate import and export activities at the border gates which have been re-opened on the basis of ensuring strict requirements on disease prevention and control.