Recommending solutions to avoid local congestion at the border gate

	PM orders urgent measures to prevent goods congestion at northern border gates
	Lang Son: Solving the congestion of agricultural products at the border gate

Customs authorities guide enterprises to pack agricultural products according to standards. Photo: H.Nu

One of the recommendations of the Ministry of Industry and Trade for exporters is to reduce local congestion at Huu Nghi border gate area (mainly durian).

Specifically, the Ministry of Industry and Trade recommends that businesses should actively monitor and grasp the clearance situation at border gates, especially border gates in Lang Son province.

In addition, enterprises focus on meeting Chinese regulations on testing, quarantine, quality supervision and business registration under Order No 248. (Frozen and dried fruit products also require business registration).

In particular, businesses need to urgently discuss with Chinese import partners to redirect customs clearance through other border gates that are eligible to import fruits from China adjacent to Cao Bang provinces (Ta Lung and Tra Linh border gates), Quang Ninh (Mong Cai border gate), Ha Giang (Thanh Thuy border gate) and Lao Cai (Kim Thanh border gate).

Previously, since May 23, 2023, there was local congestion of trucks carrying export goods (mainly durian) at Huu Nghi border gate area, Lang Son province.

On May 24, 2023, the Ministry of Industry and Trade had a meeting with the Commercial Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam, which emphasized the important priority of the Ministry of Industry and Trade in maintaining and ensuring the supply chain, especially the facilitation of clearance of agricultural products and fruits at the peak of the harvest in June and July.

At the same time, he asked the Chinese side to coordinate to improve customs clearance efficiency at the border gate, establishing a priority green channel for fruit clearance, and orient businesses of the two countries to diversify the border gate for import and export goods delivery.

In the following days, the Ministry of Industry and Trade continued to maintain regular exchanges with the Chinese side (Embassies, Customs) and directed the Vietnam Trade Office Branch in Nanning, Guangxi to promote the authorities at the Chinese side's border gate capacity in the immediate future is to divert fruit (durian) to customs clearance at Tan Thanh - Po Chai border gate to reduce pressure on Huu Nghi border gate; coordinating in propagating to enterprises of the two countries to actively channel export goods (especially agricultural products and fruits) through other border gates that are eligible for fruit import from China adjacent to other provinces Cao Bang (Ta Lung, Tra Linh), Quang Ninh (Mong Cai), Ha Giang (Thanh Thuy) and Lao Cai (Kim Thanh). Continuing to reduce the clearance time for each agricultural vehicle; Extension of customs clearance time at Huu Nghi Quan border gate on the Chinese side to 9 pm.

With the active participation of the relevant units, they have actively coordinated and organized the distribution of durian import channels through Tan Thanh - Po Chai and extended the clearance time through Huu Nghi border gate on May 26. 2023 to 9pm.

According to preliminary information from the Management Board of Dong Dang Border Gate Economic Zone, Lang Son province, the number of cars waiting at Huu Nghi border gate by the end of May 31, 2023 has decreased to 479 vehicles compared to the previous peak days. At that time (as of May 28, 2023, there were 709 vehicles in stock) although the number of trucks transporting export goods continued to pour into this area. The number of durian trucks passing through the Tan Thanh - Po Chai border gate area has also increased.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade said that it is continuing to work with Chinese partner agencies to implement the Prime Minister's direction at Official Dispatch No. 492/CD-TTg dated May 31, 2023 and promote measures to improve customs clearance efficiency at border gates of the two countries, especially with Guangxi during the peak time of fruit harvest in Vietnam.