Lang Son stops receiving trucks transporting fresh fruits and flowers to border gates

This information was presented by the People’s Committee of Lang Son province in Document No. 55/UBND-KT dated January 12, 2022. Accordingly, due to Covid-19, only three border gates have carried out cargo clearance for import – export goods in Lang Son, namely Huu Nghi International Border Gate, Dong Dang – Lang Son Railway Station and Chi Ma border gate.

Also, according to the People’s Committee of Lang Son province, since the end of November 2021, the volume of domestic goods transported to border gates was very high. Meanwhile, the clearance capacity of export goods per day has not increased. The main border gate for exporting fruit and flowers is Tan Thanh border gate, which has suspended operations.

Clearance activities take place in Chi Ma border gate. Photo: H.Nụ

Preliminary statistics show that, on average, the number of vehicles processed per day was only 80-100 (including 50-60 trucks transporting fruit and flowers).

By the end of January 11, the total number of backlogged trucks at three border gates (Huu Nghi, Tan Thanh and Chi Ma) was 1,721, including 749 trucks transporting fruits and flowers. With the clearance speed mentioned above, Lang Son province would need 13 to 15 days to release all goods at the border gate of the province.

Therefore, following the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh in Notice No. 350/TB-VPCP dated December 27, 2021 of the Government Office, the People's Committee of Lang Son Province issued Document No. 09/UBND-KT dated January 4, 2022 requesting the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to coordinate in directing and recommending the temporary halt to bringing goods to the border gate of Lang Son province for export.

Lang Son Provincial People's Committee said, however, through monitoring, in recent days, some vehicles were still carrying goods to the provincial border gates to wait for export (from January 5 to January 10, 680 new vehicles travelled to the border gate, an average of 120 vehicles per day). As the Chinese authority was continuing to implement the "Zero Covid" strategy, strengthening pandemic control in localities with border gates, the export of goods would continue to face many difficulties.

Therefore, in order to reduce risks for exported goods, especially fresh fruits which must be stored for a long time, costs are incurred, causing economic losses to people and businesses as well as ensuring the port infrastructure, pandemic prevention in the border gate area, facilitating the authorities and competent forces of Lang Son province to release the vehicles and goods that are still congested before the Lunar New Year, the People's Committee of Lang Son province announced it would stop receiving vehicles transporting fresh fruits to the land border gate for export to China. The implementation period is from January 17, 2022 until the Lunar New Year.

Accordingly, Lang Son province asked the People’s Committees of provinces and cities that have goods exported through the province to direct departments, sectors and units to tell businesses and traders to temporarily stop transports.

At the same time, continuing to direct relevant departments and units to implement market connections, promote domestic consumption, focus on fruits and agricultural products that are in the harvest season; guiding enterprises to select or change to other modes of transport and export such as waterways and rail in order to reduce the load on road border gates; promote trade promotion, and expand export markets to other countries.

Continuing to update information on the situation of cargo clearance at the border gates of Lang Son province to coordinate in directing and regulating export goods in accordance with reality and minimizing business risks.

The People's Committee of Lang Son province will also continue to implement solutions as well as hold talks and exchanges with the authorities in Guangxi (China) to restore clearance activities at the suspended border gates as soon as possible, enhancing clearance capacity.

The People's Committee of Lang Son province has also assigned the Lang Son Department of Industry and Trade to regularly provide information on the import and export situation of goods at the border gates to actively coordinate in directing and regulating export goods.