The flow of goods has increased, but the yard capacity is limited, so congestion often takes place at the border gate area in Lang Son province.

The People's Committee of Lang Son province has continuously directed relevant sectors, agencies and authorities to introduce solutions to deal with the cargo congestion.

However, in the long run, there must be new strategic orientations to cope with the problem.

Good flows have soared

According to Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Lang Son province Luong Trong Quynh, the Provincial People's Committee has asked departments, agencies, authorities and People's Committees of border districts to ensure pandemic prevention and control while facilitating the customs clearance of import and export goods through the province.

Accordingly, in the first seven months of 2021, the total imports and exports through the province reached US$2,390 million, up 53.2% year-on-year.

The import and export results are good but the flow of agricultural products in Lang Son province in the harvest season encounters difficulties related to customs clearance, inspection; clearance capacity through border gates; transaction type; and types of goods, said Quynh.

Goods entering and leaving Tan Thanh border gate. Photo: H.N

Huu Nghi and Tan Thanh international border gates are the two border gates with the largest import-export flows in Lang Son province. Export goods volume, especially dragon fruit congested at Tan Thanh border gate, has been rising from July 19 to August 10.

It is because that Yunnan province in China announced a halt to importing dragon fruit in Lao Cai province for 30 days, and Vietnam's agricultural products now are in the harvest season.

Furthermore, 100% of trucks carrying agricultural products from Vietnam to China must be inspected, so customs clearance takes a long time.

Tan Thanh Customs Branch reported the average clearance capacity at Tan Thanh border gate is only 150-180 trucks per day. Therefore, the volume of trucks congested is quite high.

For example, as of August 14, the number of trucks carrying agricultural products and fresh fruit waiting for customs clearance inside and outside Bao Nguyen bus station was over 700 and 30 respectively (including nearly 600 trucks carrying dragon fruit).

At Huu Nghi international border gate, Huu Nghi border gate Customs Branch said that the Chinese side has taken many measures to control the spread of the pandemic, so the import and export activities in the area have faced many difficulties.

From early August 2021, about 300-400 trucks are congested per day. Meanwhile, the import-export goods at Huu Nghi international border gate are mainly cars, motorcycle parts, household goods, machinery, electronic products and components, and fresh fruits.

Long-term solutions are necessary

The Chinese side often introduces stricter regulations during the harvest season of agricultural products and fresh fruit. Thus, congestion of goods at border gates, like those in Lang Son province, happens regularly.

The relevant authorities at the border gate have actively developed solutions to manage and regulate the means of import and export goods to avoid congestion. However, these are only short-term solutions, to solve the problem of cargo congestion that has taken place for many years in Lang Son province, long-term solutions and orientations are necessary.

Huu Nghi Xuan Cuong Joint Stock Company is the only unit providing logistics services
in customs clearance at Huu Nghi international border gate. Photo: H.Nu

Luong Trong Quynh said amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Chinese side has issued many new regulations, so provinces, cities, enterprises, industry associations and farmers need to quickly understand regulations to bring goods to the border, ensuring food safety, traceability and quarantine.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development must guide local governments with growing areas to support farmers and businesses to classify, packing, and preservation and labelling in accordance with the requirements at production places to ensure food safety and traceability.

At the same time, businesses need to make an electronic customs declaration for all export shipments to speed up customs clearance, helping reduce risks for businesses and avoid congestion at the border gate, said Luong Trong Quynh.

In addition, to completely solve the congestion, the issues related to infrastructure and yards, especially traffic infrastructure to further facilitate trade in goods must be solved.

Because we have not made the most of the potential of the railway, so if the railway is used for transporting agricultural products, it will be convenient, reduce costs and time for both the management agency and enterprises.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said, after negotiating and signing the Protocol for nine agricultural products, the next negotiation procedures for other eight agricultural products of Vietnam has been fully prepared in terms of planting area codes, traceability records and sent to the General Department of China Customs.

But due to the pandemic, this is facing difficulties. This is an important solution to improve the quantity and sales of agricultural products exported to the Chinese market.