This is the solution stated by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in a document recently sent to industry associations, logistics, ship owners, agents, brokers and maritime services when shipping costs continue to escalate.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade said that besides the current sea route, businesses importing and exporting to Europe can consider alternative routes, such as using combined multimodal transport. For example, businesses can send goods by sea to ports in the Middle East, then use air, rail or road to continue transporting to Europe.
The Ministry calls on import-export businesses to coordinate with customs and ports to quickly handle backlogged goods to increase traffic flow. Industry and logistics associations and the Confederation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) open training programs to improve contract negotiation capacity for small and medium-sized enterprises.
In fact, in recent times, businesses have also proactively changed alternative routes in the context of rising shipping rates. For example, in early 2024, the first container ship of Zim - one of the world's largest ocean container shipping companies - arrived at Cai Lan International Container Port, Ha Long city, Quang Ninh province. The formation of this route allows the fastest connection of goods to the market, from Northern Vietnam to the West Coast of the United States.
Talking to Lao Dong about this issue, Mr. Le Duy Hiep - Vietnam Logistics Services Business Association (VLA) said that previously, the service route of Zim shipping company (Israel) mainly ran from China to China. West Coast of America.
But, now, due to Vietnam's increasing demand for exporting goods to the US, Zim ships have exploited the transport route from Cai Lan Port, moving goods takes 16-17 days.
“Normally, from ports in Northern Vietnam to the East Coast of the United States (must go through the Red Sea) takes about 34-36 days; Transporting goods from Northern Vietnam to the West Coast of the United States by air takes about 1 week but the cost is very expensive.
Having a container transport route from Cai Lan Port to the West Coast of the United States has created many advantages in transporting goods. This route crosses the Pacific Ocean, so it avoids the impact of the Red Sea crisis, reducing transit time and costs of goods to the US.
This is a very good signal for Vietnamese goods, especially major export products such as wooden furniture, garments, electronics, fruits, and seafood using refrigerated containers," Mr. Hiep said.
Some businesses said the price of each container to Europe ranges from 4,000 to 5,000 USD, 2-3 times more than the end of last year. The average cost per container exported to the US is about 6,000-7,000 USD, doubling.
Freight rates to areas such as China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia also increased to about 1,000-2,000 USD/container.
